Service to Youth
2007 - KAREN CHAPMAN
2007 - FRAN WEHMAN
2006 - DAVID ROGERS - David has done much in the area of Sports/Acro gymnastics by hosting regional and national competitions and promoting this sport in Texas. He has been very generous to gymnasts and coaches by opening his facility to them so they may learn various skills involved in Acro gymnastics. His coaches have worked with other coaches which has enabled the development of Acro gymnastics here in Texas. GAT is pleased to present our Service to Youth Award to David Rogers.
2006 - DEBBIE DOWLING AND LEA ANN VILLALANTI - This award is presented annually to persons who have served the gymnastic community for a number of years touching many children. Since 1998 both of these ladies have volunteered countless hours to promote Group Gymnastics to the state of Texas, GAT and at state and national competitions. Mrs. Dowling has conducted meetings to other gyms in Texas on TeamGymn information and rules, Performance Gymnastics seminars and became a judge for the TeamGymn Nationals in Las Vegas. By becoming a judge, Texas was able to be represented at the national competition. Mrs. Villalanti has served as coordinator of uniforms and costumes for the Texas Teams since 1998. Both of these ladies have attended the past two World Gymnaestradas in Sweden and Portugal and have volunteered to be chairpersons of all the travel for 75+ delegates to the World Gymnaestrada in Austria in 2007. We salute these two ladies for their significant contribution to the growth of Group Gymnastics at GAT, Texas and at world events.
2005 - THE HOLZAPFEL FAMILY : JON, JENNIFER AND WESLEY: The Holzapfel family have been very supportive of their children’s activities, especially gymnastics. They have done numerous presentations at school board meetings and their dedication to gymnastics has helped establish the gymnastics program in the Grapevine Colleyville ISD for boys and girls. Jon served as president of the Booster Club for two years, was publicity chairman for three years, photographer, videographer for coaches training and made several presentations to the school board to prevent the termination of gymnastics programs when the District was facing severe budget constraints. The list goes on, donation of Sports tickets and meal certificates for numerous fund raisers, that the family organized, coordinated and assisted in search for coaches, assisted in the organization of the first ever meet, the 2005 District II Championships, hosted at Grapevine Colleyville ISD. Jennifer served as Booster Club Treasurer for three years, organized judges assistants for the 2005 District II Championship and was organizer of the Gymnastics Banquet for three years. Wesley has got his start and inspiration to work hard at Cartwheel Gymnastics since age three. He coached the boys team in high school when there was not a boys’ coach. He spoke in front of the school board in a effort to ensure funding for the gymnastics program. Along with his father, he actively sought coaches and gymnasiums to keep the program at the high school alive and he became a Nationally Certified Judge during his senior year. It is indeed a pleasure for GAT to award this family our Service to Youth Award.
2005 - DIANE CALLISON: New Caney: Mother, grandmother, nationally rated judge, educator, professional; that is Diane. In more than 20 years, she has served on the boards of USAG and NAWGJ. She is the USAG South Competition Chairperson for Texas and enjoys working with new meet directors in the organization of their events. She has directed countless competitions including International events over the years and has provided the list of GAT Honor and Merit recipients for the Women’s USGA for the past several years. Diane has served as speaker at many GAT Conventions. We are pleased to award Diane with the GAT Service to Youth Award.
2004 - GEORGIA MILLER: Austin : Her daughter got her involved in gymnastics nine years ago and even though the daughter is no longer in gymnastics, her Mom is very involved in the works. Georgia is our Registration Coordinator. Some of her jobs include checking the mail, processing registration forms, depositing registration monies, creating and maintaining the database, ordering or creating registration nametags, badges, and packets. She organizes the volunteers from various Gym clubs to work at GAT and generally trouble shoots at our convention. Georgia works full time at Round Rock ISD administration where she gets lots of experience in handling complaints and coordinating major conferences and workshops. Thank you Georgia for all you do for gymnasts in Texas . We are pleased to present Georgia Miller as our Service to Youth Award winner.
2003 - LAURA BORCHARDT: Laura has spent most of her professional time teaching and coaching gymnastics in Lubbock with her husband Wally. She has coached high school team, she has coached Special Olympic Team. I t is her involvement with the Special Olympics that we are honoring Laura. She has been the Gymnastics venue director at the last several Special Olympics State Games, held annually at various locations in the state. As such, she is responsible for the scheduling of athletes, as well as checking out the venue for the games. Laura recently returned from the Special Olympic World Games in Dublin , Ireland , where she coached the Texas Delegation. For the past several years Laura has presented the finer points of coaching special athletes at GAT Conventions. She has touched the lives of many very special gymnasts. We are please to present Laura with our Service to Youth Award.
2002 - Pat Hamilton: (No Info Given).
2002 - Doug Fitzjarrel: Waco : Doug came to Odessa Junior College from Colorado Springs in 1970. He was a two-time Nat. AA Champ & a team member of two NJCAA Championship teams. From Odessa , Doug went to Iowa State Univ. where, in 1974, he won numerous awards including NCAA FX Champ, Scholar Athlete of the Year, was a Nominee for the Nissen Award, and earned a BS degree in Physical Education. He taught/coached gymnastics at Snyder High School in the late 70’s where his girls’ team won two Division 2 Team Titles. Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology at Ohio State University in 1980 and moved to Waco where he eventually opened High Tumbler Gymnastics Center . Doug has served as Vice President of GAT and in 1990-1992 served the youth of Texas as the USGF Women’s State Chairman. Doug has coached athletes up to and including National Level gymnasts in USGF and has been a dedicated attendee of this GAT Convention since 1980 until 1999 when he sold the High Tumbler Gym. Doug has been a clinician at GAT many years and has worked at numerous summer camps both here in Texas and nation wide. He has been a tremendous influence to many of our Texas athletes. He loved the sport, he loved the kids. It is with great pleasure that we present Doug Fitzjarrel this Service to Youth Award.
2001 - Lori Laznovsky: Ft Worth: Started her gymnastics at age 4 at Sokol KHB in Ennis , Texas . Planned numerous local, nat. & intern events. Serves as the Southern District Women's Physical Director for the American Sokol Organization, and recently served as the director for the New York based 2001 World Sokol Fed. International Youth Camp for youth from the USA and Eastern Europe . Lori is on the USAG-General Gym. Advisory panel since its inception in 1995. She participated in the first USAG Nat. GymFest in 1993, was part of the USAG’s first official delegation to the World Gymnaestrada in Berlin in 1995, and served as a staff member/participant in 1999 for the 11th World Gymnaestrada held in Gothenburg , Sweden . Speaker for National Congress and GAT. As part of her GG Advisory Panel duties she serves as the Nat. Camps Coordinator, helping to increase GG. Lori helped to organize the World Gymnaestrada at Lisbon , Portugal in 2003.
2000 - Johnna Kudlac: Committed hours of lectures, camps, and clinics to help coaches and parents understand nutrition.
2000 - Gary Heartsfield: Ft Worth: Donating equipment for charitable events, by providing equipment at the last minute.
1999 - June Blackman-Kutz, GymKin Representative and Pro Shop Consultant for Elite Sportswear
1999 - Jodie Trncak; Gymnaestrada Sweden 1999, Her influence is now world-wide. GAT salutes you Mrs. Jodie Trncak.
1999 - Janet Kalat is the National Women's Director of the Sokol gymnastic organization.
1999 - Chuck Kalat; Men's Assistant Sokol Dir. for TX / American Sokol National assistant Director
1998 - Jodie Trncak, choreographer for the GAT-TX Group Gymnastics team, prepared 150 gymnasts for Sweden in 1999.;Donna Kihneman, worked closely with Jodie Trncak in the development of Group Gymnastics in Texas ; Joc Erhenberger, life-long member of SOKOL Zizka, Dallas; Paul Chapman, Corpus Christi : Paul & his wife Janis, formed the S. Texas Emergency Corps, Coastal Bend community
1997 - Becky Mann, has given countless hours as the host committee chairman of GAT gatherings in Austin.; Jack Dunlop, 17 years serving youth as a NAWGJ level 10 rated judge; David Brosig, past H.S. and Collegiate competitor, serving over 10 years as a NGJA judge; Steve Rutledge,“The Bear” 2 time State HS ring champion, 2 NCAA National Team Champions at OU & NGJA judge; Harriett Kaker, more than 10 years of promoting gymnastics in the Texas Special Olympics.
1996 - Wally & Laura Brochardt, Texas Special Olympics honors; Larry Laznovsky, has served as President of the Southern District SOKOL since 1983.
1995 - Mike Spiller, the Pied Piper of Gymnastics. Where you see Mike, you will see kids and a game getting started.
1994 - Carol Hillenburg, for more than 20 years of service as a judge and sports administrator.
1993 - Ed Sergeant, Director of the Texas Gymnastics Conference in the 1980’s and 90’s.
1992 - SOKOL Zizka, Dallas, For 80 years of service in Gymnastics; Fred McCracken, Olathe, Kansas, Manufacturer representative for AAI; Mark Keating, North Richland Hills. For years of service and support for gymnastics competition in Texas .
1990 - William Harold Green, Director of PE and Selected Sports, Ector County Schools , Odessa (2nd Award)
1989 1990 - Hoot Smith, Athletic Director, HEB Schools , Hurst (2nd Award)
1989 - Diane Phillips, Houston. Hostess for countless gymnastics meets in Houston , including Nat. competitions.; Gary Heartsfield, Bedford, Equipment Co. Rep.; Mark Sherman, Dallas, Judge, Pacific Alliance Championship, Indianapolis
1988 - Judie Snook, Assistant State Judging Director; Bob Clark, Coordinator of PE and Selected; SOKOL ENNIS, in honor of the EIGHTIETH anniversary of SOKOL Ennis’ gymnastics since 1908; Helen Dundas, Capital Gymnastics, Austin.
1987 & 1988 GAT Conventions, Leader of Capital Parents Club.
1987 - Jennifer Host, USGF Women’s St. Chairperson, Houston
1986 - Gary Heartsfield, Spieth Anderson Company, Euless
1985 - Jacquetta Ayers, Parent Leader, Bryan High School ; Pat Ethredge, Director, Texas NAWGJ, Houston
1984 - Jon Cada, Nissen Corporation, Hurst; Raymond Villegas, Reporter, El Paso, Times; Jennifer Host, Meet Director, Houston
1982 - Bob Joy, Athletic Director, Abilene Schools 1983 - Raymond McCary, Parent Leader, Fort Worth
1981 - Hoot Smith, Athletic Director, HEB Schools , Hurst ; Garland O’Quinn, Ph.D., Dev. Gymn., Austin
1980 - Jo Rae Davis, Parent, L.D. Bell HS, Bedford 1980 - Harold Green, Ector County Schools , Odessa
1979 - Marjory Wilson, Ector County Schools , Odessa