USRowing is pleased to announce that Philadelphia based referee and masters rower Kate Godwin has been awarded the 2012 USRowing Jack Franklin Award.
Selected by the USRowing Referee Committee, the award honors a member of the organization's referee corps for lifetime contributions to the sport. Godwin will be honored at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 14 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
"I was surprised but certainly pleased especially since John Franklin was one of my mentors," Godwin said of being named this year's recipient. "He actually did a lot for rowing and referees and I was lucky to have known him. I am truly honored to be nominated but excited to actually win the award. It is nice to be part of this group."
Godwin was nominated by USRowing referee John Musial. In his nomination letter, Musial wrote, "Kate has a lifetime of service in the sport of rowing as a referee, competitor, organizer and club member. Kate has been a referee since the 1980s and was one of the women who helped blaze the trail for the women in the referee corps today.
"Kate always has had time to listen and to help people both into the sport initially or to develop themselves within the sport. It would be hard to find many referees in the country who have not worked with her and been touched by her in one way or another," Musial wrote.
During her time, Godwin helped recruit and train many of the women referees in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has worked as a board member and officer of the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association, has been involved with numerous national championships and national team trials and has served as a jury member at several other prestigious regattas, including the IRA.
She has been selected as first chief referee for the NCAA championships and served as a co-chief referee to the Dad Vail Regatta for 15 years. Godwin is a masters competitor and has served as an officer or board member for three Philadelphia boat clubs, including Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club, Pennsylvania Barge Club and Vesper Rowing Club.
"Kate is a very deserving recipient of the Franklin award," said Jon Wik, director of referee programs for USRowing. "She is a dedicated referee, chief referee, clinician, and mentor. Whether at trials or at a small local regatta, Kate is always consistent in her interpretation and application of the rules of rowing assuring both safety and fairness for all of the athletes."
USRowing recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions and achievements in the sport in 12 categories.
Five of the awards will be given at the Golden Oars Dinner including the USRowing Medal of Honor; awarded to Stan Pocock; Male Athlete of the Year, awarded to Glenn Ochal; Female Athlete of the Year, awarded to Oksana Masters; Jack Franklin Lifetime Achievement Award, to be announced Oct. 1; Jack Kelly Award, to be announced Oct. 2; Anita DeFrantz Award for Advancing Diversity in Rowing, to be announced Oct. 3; and the Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing, to be announced Oct. 4.
Seven additional USRowing Awards will be given November 29-December 2 at the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla. They include the John J. Carlin Service Award, to be announced Oct. 8; Clayton W. Chapman Award, to be announced Oct. 9; Joan Zandbergen "Mama Z" Award, to be announced Oct. 10; Julian Wolf Award, to be announced Oct 11; Man of the Year Award, to be announced Oct. 15; Ernestine Bayer Award (formerly Woman of the Year), to be announced Oct. 16; and the Club of the Year Award, to be announced Nov. 11.
Seven Fan's Choice Awards also will be given at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner. They include the National Team Rower of the Year; Junior Rower of the Year; Masters Rower of the Year, Collegiate Rower of the Year; Junior Coach of the Year; Masters Coach of the Year; and Collegiate Coach of the Year. All seven winners will be announced Oct. 24.