W. Van Alan Clark, Jr. Award for Sportsmanship.

I can't express what a heart-warming experience this was for me.... A little back ground: We, the Interlake Class Association, the Hoover Yacht Club and the International Lightning Class Association had nominated George Fisher for this award. Clark Chapin, Jeff Clark and I had gotten together last fall at the Annual Meeting at St Petersburg to put together the nomination. Clark does a wonderful job of writing and for this nomination we had more information because George has accomplished so much in his many years of sailing both on and off the water. The nomination submission took up two pages of the details.

We knew that the US SAILING Spring Meeting is always the same weekend as the Lightning Class Midwinter Regatta and of course George would be at St. Petersburg. Dean Cady informed us of George’s winning the award and asked if I could possibly go to St Petersburg and present it to George on behalf of US SAILING and the ODCC. For the Lightning Class and me this was to be a special honor.

I arrived in Florida with laryngitis (of course) as the dinner came closer, Greg and Matt both would help me if I needed it but they felt being George's night there should be no family help. I had a scotch at the cocktail party and when it was time - got to the mike and my voice was there long enough to get the basics out, which is all we needed... A standing ovation…George gave a short acceptance, which brought more tears to my eyes - and his... then a second standing ovation… it was beautiful. Everyone in the room of four hundred gave him a hug.

He thanked his sons for keeping him sailing and then Marty for all her support... I can't tell you how much this meant to the St Petersburg Yacht Club as George first crewed in a Lightning there in 1948 and started skippering in 1952, fifty years ago here in St Pete. Most sailors know Greg Fisher, and the Lightning Class knows Matt as well. George felt that there are others who are more deserving. Knowing the boys – I wonder where their spirit comes from. I hope George’s breed doesn’t disappear.

Thank you George.

Mary Huntsman
Past President - ILCA