FWSA Council's Volunteer of the Year Winners
In the beginning (1970), the contest was mostly a beauty pageant for the women where the contestants modeled ski apparel. There were rounds of cocktail parties, publicity photographs followed by a hectic day of interviews, tours and parties.
In 1975, the Bay Area entered a man, Don Drury, in the pageant and he was proclaimed King. The following year FWSA opened the competition to men. They too had to model ski apparel.
In those early days, the “Sno Queen & King” were chosen by noteworthy & impartial judges. Many of the Far West Woman went on to be named Miss USSA**, first held at USSA's Nation Ski week in 1971. The King and Queen were often referred to as Mr. Far West and Miss Far West.
In 1981, the contest was not held because FWSA thought that the "Sno Queen & King" contest was too sexist. The contest reappeared the following year as the "Councils' Man and Woman of the Year" in the format we use today. Councils' Man and Woman of the Year should not be confused with the Wood and Mullin Awards where the winners were often referred to as Far West Man and Woman of the Year.
Until 2022, the Councils' Man and Woman of the Year was presented to both an outstanding man and woman at the grassroots level. Selection criteria is based on each individual's involvement in skiing; club, council, regional and national activities; and knowledge and enthusiasm for the snowsports. Candidates should have awareness of Far West programs and, in particular, its public affairs involvement.
The
name of this program was
changed after the 2021 FWSA Convention to the
Councils' Volunteer of the Year.
Beginning with in
2022 the award is
presented to an outstanding individual at the grassroots level. Selection criteria is based on each individual's involvement in skiing; club, council, regional and national activities; and knowledge and enthusiasm for the snowsports. Candidates should have awareness of Far West programs and, in particular, its public affairs involvement.
Learn more about the FWSA Councils' Volunteer of the Year
Program.
| Year |
Volunteer of Year |
Council |
| 2024 |
Linda Johnston |
Arizona |
2023
|
Tony Baker |
BAC |
| 2022 |
Fran Long |
Central |
| Year |
Woman of Year |
Council |
Men of Year |
Council |
| 2021 |
Sandi Schaub |
Northwest
|
Bill Behnke |
Arizona |
2020
|
No Award |
|
No Award |
|
| 2019 |
Becki Robinson |
Northwest |
Todd Hood |
NBSWR |
| 2018 |
Kim Hovren |
Intermountain |
Michael Bouton |
Intermountain |
| 2017 |
Jane Gutierrez |
Los Angeles |
Mark Barnard |
Intermountain |
| 2016 |
Colleen Stroeder |
Northwest |
Mike Ferketich |
Bay Area |
| 2015 |
Linda Westlund |
Arizona |
David Felker |
Los Angeles |
| 2014 |
Nancy Ellis |
Sierra |
Gene Fulkerson |
Los Angeles |
| 2013 |
Jennifer Milstein |
Bay Area |
Dale Parshall |
Northwest |
| 2012 |
Sigrid Noack |
Los Angeles |
Norm Azevedo |
Bay Area |
| 2011 |
Debbie Stewart |
Sierra |
Gary Gunderson |
Northwest |
| 2010 |
Helen Harris |
San Diego |
Jim Sommer |
Sierra |
| 2009 |
Lennia Machen |
Intermountain |
Don Anderson |
Intermountain |
| 2008 |
Sheri Parshall |
Northwest |
Dennis Heffley |
Bay Area |
| 2007 |
Jessica Freeman |
Los Angeles |
Bob Ellis |
Sierra |
| 2006 |
Mary Beth Fitchlee |
Arizona |
Jeff Peebles |
Arizona |
| 2005 |
Barbara Bryant |
Sierra |
Steve Coxen |
Northwest |
| 2004 |
Marge Fons |
Arizona |
Emilio Trampuz |
Northwest |
| 2003 |
Elaine Cabos |
Arizona |
Andreas Vogel |
Los Angeles |
| 2002 |
Maxine Hanlon |
Orange |
Bob March |
San Diego |
| 2001 |
Dotti Gallagher |
Sierra |
Donn Bryant |
Sierra |
| 2000 |
Catherine Ohl |
Los Angeles |
Dan Halcomb |
Sierra |
| 1999 |
Diane Hicks |
Northwest |
Joe Loader |
Sierra |
| 1998 |
Karen Davis |
Bay Area |
Ethan Chickering |
Bay Area |
| 1997 |
Kathy Hoffmann |
Bay Area |
Mark Hanlon |
Orange |
| 1996 |
Connie Smith |
San Diego |
Mike Sanford |
San Diego |
| 1995 |
Linda Keller |
Orange |
Hal Richey |
Los Angeles |
| 1994 |
Marge Fons |
Arizona |
Tucker Hoffmann |
Bay Area |
| 1993 |
Judy Sobel |
Los Angeles |
Steve Ziomek |
Arizona |
| 1992 |
Susie Vetter |
San Diego |
Randy Lew |
Bay Area |
| 1991 |
Debi LeVine |
Los Angeles |
Steve Smith |
Los Angeles |
| 1990 |
Julia Guifford |
Central |
Norm Cullen |
San Diego |
| 1989 |
Pat Nangle |
Orange |
Woody Hogan |
Central |
| 1988 |
Lauren Nagle |
Central |
Dennis Doty |
Inland |
| 1987 |
Judy Purdom |
Bay Area |
Bill Silliman |
Orange |
| 1986 |
Terry Mayle |
Orange |
Cloyde Howard |
Orange |
| 1985 |
|
|
Louis Buhler |
Los Angeles |
| 1984 |
Linda Walker |
San Diego |
Robert Jiminez |
Inland |
| 1983 |
|
|
Alan Christian |
Bay Area |
| 1982 |
Kay Cofield-Raab |
Los Angeles |
John Davidson |
Los Angeles |
| 1981 |
not held |
|
not held |
|
| 1980 |
|
|
|
|
| 1979 |
|
|
Howard Wickersham |
Los Angeles |
| 1978 |
|
|
Leo Stytle |
Los Angeles |
| 1977 |
|
|
|
|
| 1976 |
Pam Pontius |
San Diego |
Dennis Eggert |
Los Angeles |
| 1975 |
Connie Cox |
Inland |
|
|
| 1974 |
Pamela Kay Anderson** |
Los Angeles |
|
|
| 1973 |
Faye Halden** |
Central |
|
|
| 1972 |
Tyoni Busch** |
Central |
|
|
| 1971 |
Lori Spann |
Central |
|
|
| 1970 |
Sharon Reece** |
Southern |
|
|
|
**Named Miss USSA at USSA's "Nation's Ski Week"
|