Duane Fritchl, Chair of Awards Committee,

 Duane, I am nominating Robertson “Bob” McGavock for the Bill Stutz Award. Bob has been an active member, hiker, and strong supporter of the Soddy Daisy Chapter since April 2009. This was after the chapter was reorganized after being dormant for approximately 5 years. A little over a year after the chapter was reorganized the chapter again went through a rough period when its leadership abruptly resigned and left TTA. Bob was one of the members who was instrumental in keeping the chapter alive, active, and healthy. Bob served as Chapter Treasurer for approximately 12 years, and as the Chapter Chair in 2012 and is currently Assistant Treasurer. Bob leads hikes, explores new areas and is very knowledgeable of the trails in the surrounding Chattanooga area. He has been very active on the trails assisting with bridge construction, volunteering building trails during the Spring Breakaways with the Cumberland Trail Conference. He has performed hundreds of volunteer hours clearing blocked trails and trail maintenance on the Cumberland Trail. He assisted with erecting state approved signs to identify mining features of Little Soddy Stream Valley. This was the first step towards preserving history of one of the first tunnel coal mine operation complexes in Tennessee. Bob has assisted setting up booths to advertise and promote the Soddy Daisy Chapter for National Trails Day and special events around Chattanooga. Always mindful of recruiting new members. He had an article posted in the TTA newspaper about two hikers passing through Chattanooga on the way to New York to be the first thru hikers of The Great Eastern Trail. Bob and some other Chattanooga hiking enthusiasts met up with the two hikers at Nikki’s Restaurant for lunch and a radio interview. After lunch Bob hiked with the two hikers a few miles as they headed North and continued their hike through the three Soddy Gorges of the Cumberland Trail State Park. It is not surprising that Bob would meet up with and to greet and assist these two hikers. It is just an example of his love, dedication, and support to the hiking community. Bob and his wife Edna have hosted the chapter summer picnic at their home. He is a wood carver and worked on some of the animals on the Carousel located in Coolidge Park in Chattanooga. He donated a piece of his art to be auctioned at one of the annual Meetings. It is a joy and pleasure to hike with Bob with his knowledge, quick wit, gentleman ways and love for hiking. This is just a small example of Bob’s support and dedication to the hiking community. I hope the committee will consider him for the much deserved Bill Stutz Award.

Thank You,

 Jane Ellett, Chapter Chair 

To view a larger image of Bob, please click on the image to the right.