Peter LeGrand Good Shepherd Award. Some Ride Leaders go out of their way to make everyone on a ride feel welcome and part of the group. They keep an eye on stragglers, help out with mechanical problems, and even sag the weary if necessary. Every year at the Annual Meeting, one such Ride Leader, nominated by the membership and selected by the Executive Committee, receives special recognition and an award. Peter LeGrand (1989) was the first recipient of the Good Shepherd Award, which was subsequently renamed in his memory. This award is given annually.
In addition to the Good Shepherd Award, the Club honors members who have made special contributions to the Club with several other awards:
Rookie Ride Leader Award. This award is presented to an individual who, in the past calendar year, has lead his or her first ride for the club and has shown a subsequent dedication to continuing to lead rides and following the Ride Leader Guidelines. This award is given annually.
Best Original Ride of the Year Award. An award will be given to the member or members who have developed the best original ride of the year. In order to qualify, the ride should be a route unique to the last calendar year and should feature roads and areas not usually utilized on PPTC rides. This award is given annually.
Neal D. Malloy Volunteer Award*. An award will be given to the member or members who go above and beyond the call of duty in volunteering for the Club. This award honors Neal Molloy (2010), a beloved club member, who shared his enthusiasm and energy with every rider he met and was dedicated to cycling and to PPTC.
Linda Tischer PPTC Lifetime Award*. The nominee must have made outstanding and long-term significant contributions through individual volunteer effort to PPTC. Evidence of personal involvement in the management, administration, or financial affairs of PPTC measured by achievement while actively serving as a member, officer, or committee chairperson, ride leader, coordinator or other position normally found on page two of Pedal Patter shall be presented. The nominee must have demonstrated leadership, selfless dedication, effective contribution and personal commitment in support of PPTC interests, goals, and ideals over a number of years. The nominee must have been a member for at least ten years and must be a current member to receive the award.
Debbie Cureton Behind the Scenes Award. This award was established in 2022 in memory of Debbie Cureton who served on the Message Committee. This is solely an ExCom-nominated award that goes to a person who works tirelessly behind the scenes without any desire of credit or fame.
* (Please note: the Neal D. Molloy Volunteer and Linda Tischer PPTC Lifetime Awards are only presented to exceptional candidates and may not always be given.)
Recent awardees are the following exemplary Club members (with full history of recipients here):
The Peter LeGrand Good Shepherd Award
2024 Adam Gould (for setting an example of empathetic and enthusiastic sweeping on multi-class rides, often going above and beyond to make sure everyone makes it to the end of the ride safely)
2023 Jim Singer and Stephen Mink
2022 Matt Birnbaum
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2007 Cynthia Priddy
2006 Brin Luther
2005 Mariette Vanderzon, Rigo Espinosa, Colleen McNerney
2004 Jeanette & Jay Howard
2003 Marvin Haas
2002 John Wannen
2001 Richard Whitt
2000 Barbara Binder
1999 Chris Moriarity
1998 Dan Lehman
1997 Anne Brown
1996 Glenn Gillis
1995 Larry Zaragoza
1994 Al Jones
1993 Alfredo Suescum
1992 Paul Carroll
1991 Bob Piper
1990 Jack Marney
1989 Peter LeGrand
Debbie Cureton Behind-the-Scenes Award
2024 Bruce Johnson (for handing the Club 5K data)
2023 Joseph Ruby
2022 Butch Counts
Neal D. Malloy Volunteer Award
2023 Terre Simpson (remarkable contributions to organizing Virginia rides and serving as a beacon of volunteerism within the club); and
Anne Fitzpatrick (unwavering commitment to excellence in promoting education, recreation, and socialization within Potomac Pedalers and beyond)
Linda Tischer Lifetime Achievement Award
2024 Carol Linden (for service to the club via ExCom service, MD Ride Coordinator tenure, event ride coordinator, and Pedal Patter editor)
Rookie Ride Leader Award
2024 Matt Gilchrist (Tailgate Ride co-leader)
2023 Danielle Cristino
2022 Chris Stix
Best Original Ride Award
2024 A specific iteration of the Tailgate Ride, the route to Elder Pine Brewing took club members on many seldom used roads heading out of northwest DC to deep Montgomery County and back. Ride route developed by Eric Pilsk.
2023 St. Michael’s Weekend. Organizers of the scenic and relaxing Saint Michaels Weekend routes were Butch Counts, Robin Sparer, Deborah Reynolds, and Danielle Cristino.
2022 Accotink Burke Loop, established by Kim Blackwell