SSA 2012—SSA Awards Banquet

The February 4, 2012 SSA Awards Banquet was well-attended. According to the SSA staff, 327 convention attendees registered for the banquet.

The SSA staff table at the Awards Banquet

Banquet Guests

Dennis and Mrs. Linnekin with Pat and Leo Buckley, Peter Pfortner, and other guests

Prof. Loek Boermans

Before the meal was served, SSA Chairman Al Tyler welcomed the crowd and Master of Ceremonies Bob Wander introduced the head table. Following the meal, Chairman Al presented the SSA Awards, with help from Awards Committee Chairman Jay Campbell, Ralph Kolstad, and OLC’s Reiner Rose.

SSA Awards Banquet MC Bob Wander

Frank Whiteley, Ken Sorenson, Denise Layton

Bob Wander, Barry Schiff, Jay Campbell, Dianne Black-Nixon, and Bill Daniels

Al presented a special award to SSA’s Denise Layton for 25 years of distinguished service to the SSA. Denise is Chief Administrative Officer for the SSA, but she has served in many roles over the years.

Al Tyler presents a 25-year award to Denise Layton

Al also recognized former SSA Chair Dianne Black-Nixon with the Chairman’s Award for her many years of leadership and other significant contributions to the SSA.

Al presents Chairman's Award to Dianne Black-Nixon

Other SSA award recipients are listed below. All recipients are also noted on the SSA Awards page of the SSA website and they are linked to each member’s awards records in the SSA database. Click on the links to see a description of the award and the awards record for each recipient.

Hatcher TrophyRon Tabery

Ron Tabery receives the Hatcher "Top Gun" Trophy

Barringer TrophyGary Osoba
Leo and Jennifer Benetti-Longhini accepted the award on Gary’s behalf.

Henry Combs Trophy (2010) – Mike Koerner

Henry Combs Trophy (2011) – Karl Sommer

Rudolph Mozer TrophyBoyd Willat

Kolstad ScholarshipRachel Conklin

SSA 2012—Rachel Conklin-2011 Kolstad Youth Scholarship Winner

The Chairman’s AwardDianne Black-Nixon

SSA Exceptional Service AwardDoug Jacobs
John Good accepted on Doug’s behalf.

The Warren Eaton TrophyJim and Simine Short

Mr Reiner Rose of the OLC awarded the following certificates.

Reiner Rose presents OLC award to Ken Sorenson

In the Barron Hilton Challenge category:

2011 3rd place World champion, Standard ClassWalt Rogers

Walt Rogers receiving his OLC award from Reiner Rose

2011 2nd place World champion, Standard ClassErik Mann

2011 World champion, Standard ClassPaul Siefried

2011 Overall US Champion, Standard ClassPaul Siefried

Paul Siefried receives OLC Barron Hilton Cup Challenge Awards

Other OLC leagues:
US Silver League ChampionSouthern Sierra Soaring
US Gold League ChampionAlbuquerque Soaring Club

Reiner Rose presents U.S. Gold League Championship award to the Albuquerque Soaring Club

Overall US OLC ChampionGordon Boettger

SSA 2012—Little Miss Boettger assists Dad at Awards Ceremony

3rd Overall in the WorldJim Payne

2nd Overall in the World Gordon Boettger

Gordon Boettger and Jim Payne receive awards for placing 2nd and 3rd in 2011 OLC competition

Hugh Bennett and Gordon Boettger are recognized for their 2011 Multi-place U.S. National records in Hugh's Duo Discus

The banquet concluded with an address by Capt. Barry Schiff. Barry is a retired TWA airline captain with an extraordinary record of accomplishment in general and sport aviation. To recite them all would require a separate and quite lengthy post, but here are a few.

He holds five world speed records (one captured from the Soviet Union) and has received numerous honors for his many contributions to aviation safety. These include a Congressional Commendation, the Louis Bleriot Air Medal (France), Switzerland’s Gold Proficiency Medal, an honorary doctorate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and AOPA’s L. P. Sharples Perpetual Award. Capt. Schiff also has been inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame and the EAA/NAFI National Flight Instructor’s Hall of Fame, and was recently elected as an Elder Statesman of Aviation by the National Aeronautic Association.

For more information about Barry, visit his Virtual Hangar at www.BarrySchiff.com .

SSA 2012—SSA Awards Banquet speaker Barry Schiff