HONORARY AWARDS

GAT is now accepting your nominations for GAT Honorary Awards. GAT Members may download the Honorary Award Bio Form, complete the information and mail to the GAT address above by April 15^th. Past award recipients may be found under the GAT Info section of the website. Awards include:

Life Member is given to the person(s) who have given a long period of outstanding service and accomplishment to the sport of gymnastics in Texas.

Texas Gymnastics Heritage Award is presented to a person(s) who have contributed to the development of gymnastics in Texas prior to leaving the Sate of Texas.

Distinguished Service Award is presented to a person(s) who has given outstanding recent service to the gymnastics development and gymnastics programs in Texas.

Service to Youth Award is presented to the person(s) who does not serve as gymnastics coach or program director. Their service should be for a period of years, touching the lives of many children.

Pride of Texas Award is presented to the person(s) who has worked for the past several years supporting the GAT community by serving as demonstrators and teachers.

Honor Award is presented to the person(s) who has brought “Honor” to Texas by their winning of national titles in gymnastics or coaching national organizations.

History of GAT Awards

In 1967, the American Athletic Equipment Company presented the first “Life Membership” during the first meeting of GAT’s parent organization, GTAT – Gymnastics Teachers Association of Texas. The prestigious Life Membership Award has been presented each year since 1967 to an outstanding Texas leader in gymnastics. It is the most significant award, which may be presented to a Texas Gymnastics person by the Texas gymnastics community. Recipients, over the years, have been public school, collegiate, club, SOKOL, and physical education leaders. Each year the presentation of the Life Membership is a feature of the State GAT “Gathering” in the fall. Since 1975 the award has included a photoengraved plaque. The Executive Committee, serving as the Awards Committee elects the Life member each year. Similarly, the Distinguished Service Award and the “Service to Youth” Award are the result of election of the Awards Committee. The GAT Constitution was amended in 1974 to provide for additional award categories. The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to the person or persons who have, by their recent service and effort, given substantial and distinguished aid to the development of gymnastics in the state. The Honor Award, also established in 1974, is presented annually to persons who have brought “Honor” to Texas by their winning of national titles in gymnastics, coaching of champions, or leadership in national organizations. A new category of service was first recognized in 1979. Acting as the inspiration of Harold Green, Supervisor of physical education in the Ector Country Public Schools in Odessa, and Robert Cowan, then President of the Texas High School Gymnastics Coaches Association, the GAT created the “Service to Youth” Award. The Association extends this recognition to persons in local programs and communities who have contributed significantly to the growth of gymnastics in an area without direct service as a program director, head coach, or other principal officer of a gymnastics program. Nominations for any or all of the awards and recognition’s of the Gymnastics Association of Texas may be sent to the State Chairperson or Executive Advisor not later than September 1 of each year. Each nomination should include a narrative explaining the nomination. Address nominations to: Darlene Schmidt - GAT Awards, P.O. Box 605, San Marcos, TX 78667.