from Lois Fox - 4/2/2020
-if anyone has more detail, please send to Lois and/orĀ Marlene
We have a list of all of the Veteran Horse Award winners and the annual overall Rider/Horse champions. They are posted under Awards/Historical Data on the PNER website. The Ambassador Award in my mind is equally significant to PNER history. PNER began in 1974, but I only go back to 1986., I thought that list would be a good start. I found some interesting award information that I didn't know in the process. From 1986-1991 the award was called the Gene Petersen Memorial Award. "Presented annually by PNER in honor of Gene Petersen, an endurance rider who died suddenly in Oct 1979. Gene was always there to help, he never knew a stranger and made everyone feel welcome. The honor goes to the rider or non-rider that exemplifies that same helpful, friendly spirit."
In 1989 a second award was added, the Ambassador Award. The description said it was in "honor of Wayne Stobie and would be awarded to a ride manager who demonstrated a high regard for horse welfare." In 1991 the 2 named awards were consolidated into one Ambassador Award. The early handbooks did not include BOD actions or minutes, so it's hard to tell how these 2 awards evolved into one. The description adopted for the combined award is very similar to the Gene Petersen award and remains that way today.
My only research tool is the annual handbooks. From 1992-2001 no Ambassador Awards were listed. I am hoping some of you "Old Timers" may be able to fill in some of the blank years. Send me any info you might have. Once I have as complete a list as possible, I'll ask Stace and Marlene to post it on the PNER website. Thanks so much and stay safe.
List of identified Ambassador Award Winners
1974-1985: No information
1986: Gene Petersen Memorial Award to Walt Deuer
1987: Gene Petersen Memorial Award to Wayne Stobie
1988: No mention in handbook
1989: Gene Petersen Memorial Award toMyrna McMurtz
Ambassador Award to Pam Halladay & Bob Morton
1990: Gene Petersen Memorial Award to Karen Paulo (Bumgarner)
Ambassador to Heidi Erickson (Brautigam)
1991: 2 awards combined into Ambassador Award: CJ & Linda Johnson
1992-2001: No mention in handbook
2002: Donnie & Patty Scott
2003: Ted & Joyce Brown, Gordon Westergard, Ona Lawrence, Anna Sampson
2004: Lois Fox
2005: Lori Walker
2006: Mary Nunn
2007: Aarene Storms & Jim Beidle
2008: Mona Thacker
2009: Brenda Casebeer
2010: Don Perry
2011: Susan Favro
2012: Max Merlich
2013: Clarence Nunn & Gilbert Sampson
2014: Carlene & Wally Benson
2015: Gail Williams
2016: Tani Bates
2017: Sue Summers
2018: Karen Leiman & Sue McLain
2019: Kathy Bray
2020: LuAnn DeYoung
2021: Wally Benson
2022: Diane and Gerry Luternauer
2023: Becky Osborne