The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) honored several grounds professionals with numerous awards as part of their annual Awards Dinner that took place Friday, Oct. 29 during the 2010 School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO held in Louisville, Ky.
John Deere company was presented the 2010 PGMS Gold Medal. First presented in 1926 to a noted horticulturist William Kleinheinz of Cheltenham Township, N.J., the PGMS Gold Medal is given to an individual or entity to recognize them for outstanding and long-term achievements and/or contributions to the green industry. John Deere is to be saluted for its unending support of PGMS, PLANET and other Green Industry organizations as well as for its numerous initiatives including new ones associated with sustainability of the landscape.
Jeffrey Bourne, chief, division of facilities and capital programs, Montgomery County (MD) Department of Recreation received the PGMS E. Earl Wilson Award. This award is given, “when appropriate,” for outstanding and sustained service and dedication to the Society and the green industry as a whole. Mr. Bourne is a two-time past president of PGMS and has represented the Society on the GIE Board for years. He also served as the executive vice president of operations for the American Landscape Contractors Association (now a part of PLANET) and he is the former director of Parks & Recreation for Howard County, Md.
Marion Bolick, CGM of Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, S.C. and John Doiron of Concord Hospital in Concord, N.H. both received a President’s Award from outgoing President Monica Higgins, CGM. Each year the PGMS President is asked to give a President’s Award to a member or members they feel have shown outstanding service and contributions to the Society. Both Bolick and Doiron were recognized for their dedication and significant contributions to the association as well as for their leadership in the society.
Three long term members were also recognized as they all retired from the board this year. Kevin Harvey, CGM of St. Augustine – St. Johns County Airport Authority in Saint Augustine, Fla., Mike Loftus, CGM of the University of Delaware in Newark and Gene Pouly, CGM of E.F. Pouly Company in Orrville, Ohio were all recognized and awarded for their long time service to the association and the board of directors.