Tom Burns of Diamond Pro/TXI, former groundskeeper for the Texas Rangers, was presented with the Harry C. Gill Memorial Award at the STMA Conference Banquet January 15. This is the most prestigious of the Four Founders Awards bestowed by the organization each year.
Named for the four founding fathers of the STMA, these annual awards highlight the industry get-together each year. The Gill Memorial Award is given to an individual who has shown long-term commitment to the sports turf industry and his or her support of the goals and standards on which the STMA is based.
Dr. Tony Koski of Colorado State was named the Dr. William H. Daniel Award winner, which is given to an outstanding educator in turfgrass who has demonstrated long-term support of STMA. Dr. Koski proudly pointed out that the outgoing STMA president, Abby McNeal, CSFM, and the president-elect of the organization, Troy Smith, CSFM, both were his students.
The George Toma “Golden Rake” Award went to Craig Potts, the assistant manager of athletic fields at Texas A & M University. This award recognizes an individual’s strong work ethic and job performance—and the willingness to work hard “and then some.”
Dave Rulli, manager of stadium operations for Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood, CO, was presented the Dick Ericson Award that recognizes a person who positively impacts the sports turf industry and exhibits effective team leadership.