Carl Smith, a familar face for years at the finish line of numerous area running events, was honored Tuesday night with the Huntsville Track Club Honorary Lifetime Member award.
Smith’s award was one of 13 given by the club Tuesday night during its annual banquet at Monte Sano State Park. More than 80 attendees received updates about the club’s financial and membership health, top events including Cotton Row and the Rocket City Marathon, and other news.
Smith was lauded for his 31 years of service to the club. In the mid-90s, Smith and Jim Oaks, then a teacher and track coach at Huntsville High, began learning the electronic computer systems for membership updates and finish line timing. They continued to learn newer methods, refining the timing systems and even today Smith and Oaks are familiar faces behind the scenes at finish lines. Award presenter Harold Tinsley, a founding member of the club, said in 51 years the award has been given only 14 times.
“This is the Who’s Who among HTC volunteers, the HTC volunteer hall of fame,” Tinsley said. He added that recipents have “made a major, long-term impact upon its members. Carl Smith not only meets this requirement, but also far exceeds this requirement.”
Highlights of news updates included:
— Club president Eric Fritz again asked for the next generation of leaders to step up, including for his position as president. Fritz said he “is not running away” from the club, but would like to step back at some point and see new, fresh ideas for membership, growth and the future. Membership is holding steady, he said, although race participation on average is down about 30 percent from 2019 levels, a trend also seen elsewhere in the country.
— Cotton Row race director Donna Palumbo said no significant changes are in store for the annual Memorial Day race in downtown Huntsville that attracts thousands for the 10K and 5K event. Bill Penney Automotive, winner of this year’s Service Award (see below) has given away a new car at the last three Cotton Row events. Palumbo said it’s possible that race entry fees could increase this year due to rising costs.
— Rocket City Marathon weekend directors Dana and Dewayne Debardelaben reported that other than “a few logigistical things to iron out,” the weekend went off without a hitch. Plans already are underway for the 2023 weekend, with a meeting scheduled with Huntsville Police about the route and any issues encountered last December.
2023 award winners:
- Norman Harris (Outstanding Achievement) Award: Shannon and Kevin Green
- Admiration Award: Tyson Jouglet
- Dedication Award: Kim Balzer
- Service Award: Bill Peney Automotive
- Appreciation Award: Cindy and Paul Moeller
- Outstanding Male Performance Award: Hunter Nails, former UAH runner and multiple race winner in 2022 including a 53:26 in the 10-mile event last spring (his first 10-mile race)
- Outstanding Female Performance Award: Jean McCrady, who holds 14 Alabama age group records from 1 mile to 10K and set three in 2022 for the 5K, 4-mile and 8K
- RRCA Rod Steele Memorial Award Nominee: Carl Smith, HTC president (this annual national nomination is for RRCA member volunteers)
- Tom Bolt, President’s Award: Lauren Stegen
- Outstanding HTC High School Cross Country Male: Eric Moore, Huntsville High
- Outstanding HTC High School Cross Country Female: Ava McIntosh, Huntsville High
- HTC Honorary Lifetime Club Member: Carl Smith
- RRCA Outstanding Club President nominee: Eric Fritz (this annual national nomination is for RRCA presidents)
PHOTO: Jean McCrady, the HTC Outstanding Female Performance Award winner, with club president Eric Fritz during Tuesday’s awards banquet.
