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The trophy was presented to the Soaring Society of America in 1955 by the Larissa Stroukoff Memorial Fund, a fund set up by the late Larissa Stroukoff, wife of Michael Stroukoff, President of Stroukoff Aircraft Corporation to assist young people in their aviation education and interests. The trophy, which stands 19 ½ inches tall, was designed by Mr. Michael Stroukoff himself, and is executed in silver on an ebony base.
The trophy is perpetual, being held by each recipient until the next award. The winners' name with dates are engraved on the trophy. And, also, the recipient is presented with a certificate attesting to the award, and a cash stipend derived from an endowment fund for the trophy.
The deed of gift of the trophy included $5,000 in cash with the stipulation that it be used for the purchase of U.S. Government interest-bearing bonds. On August 9, 1955, the money was used to purchase a $5,000 U.S. Treasury 3% Bond. As stipulated, a portion of the Bond's annual interest as determined by the SSA Board of Directors, is presented to that year's winner of the trophy. The remainder is retained by the SSA Treasurer as a special fund for the maintenance of the trophy.
The achievement during the Nationals for which the trophy was awarded originally was the best out-and-return flight. For the first few years when there were still pilot-selected tasks, this was the longest such flight. In later years it was awarded for the best speed over an out-and-return task. The task was changed to triangular for the 1970 and subsequent Nationals, and finally to any task.
Past holders of the Larissa Stroukoff Memorial Trophy are as follows:
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2023 - Richard Butler: 82.47 mph over a 338.58 sm course, Cordele, GA 2022 - Richard Butler: 103.29 mph over a 318.48 sm course, Hobbs, NM 2021 - Jim Lee: 108.32 mph over a 365.75 sm course, Minden, NV 2020 - No contest 2019 - Jim Lee: 94.05 mph over a 261.65 sm course 2018 - David Mockler: 95.96 mph over a 287.64 sm course 2017 - Jim Lee: 73.94 mph over a 236.55 sm course 2016 - Keith Essex: 113.41 mph over a 297.06 sm course 2015 - Richard Butler: 90.98 mph over a 301.71 sm course 2014 - Bill Gawthrop: 95.60 mph over a 331.10 sm course 2013 - Ron Tabery: 99.95 mph over a 337.29 sm course 2012 - Ray Gimmey: 93.39 mph over a 430.30 sm course 2011 - Ron Tabery: 101.16 mph over a 377.74 sm course 2010 - Ron Tabery: 69.60 mph over a 207.33 mile course 2009 - Ron Tabery: 84.55 mph over a 327.04 mile course 2008 - Richard Butler: 2007 - No contest 2006 - Garret Willat: 97.87 mph over a 351.78 mile course 2005 - Garret Willat: 85.30 mph over a 319.52 mile course 2004 - Eric Mozer: 83.51 mph over a 296.88 mile course 2003 - Richard Butler: 72.88 mph over a 262.12 mile triangle 2002 - Ronald S. Tabery: 84.78 mph over a 283.02 mile course 1999 - Tom & Jim Payne 1996 - Allen L. Leffler: 96.41 mph over 274.12 mile triangle 1990 - Karl Striedieck: 73.64 mph over 138.92 mile triangle 1989 - Tom Knauff: 80.96 mph over 197.59 mile triangle 1988 - Ron Tabery: 87.71 mph over 304.1 mile triangle 1987 - David G. Jones, Jr.: 85.05 mph over 250.8 mile triangle 1986 - H. Ray Gimmey: 89.54 mph over 190.5 mile triangle 1985 - Richard H. Johnson: 69.92 mph over 242.5 mile triangle 1984 - H. Ray Gimmey: 99.95 mph over 221.9 mile triangle 1983 - Allen L. Leffler: 87.58 mph over 340.23 mile triangle 1982 - George Moffat, Jr.: 80.69 mph over 222.2 mile triangle |
1981 - Richard H. Johnson: 60.34 mph over 202 mile triangle 1980 - Richard Butler: 90.99 mph over 326.9 mile triangle 1979 - Richard Butler: 92.44 mph over 347.3 mile triangle 1978 - Andrew J. Smith: 57.05 mph over 106.2 mile triangle 1977 - Richard Butler: 75.88 mph over 224.5 mile triangle 1976 - Andrew J. Smith: 73.3 mph over 128.7 mile triangle 1975 - Richard H. Johnson: 75.17 mph over 173.2 mile triangle 1974 - Victor L. Peres: 67.34 mph over 120.0 mile triangle 1973 - Tom Brandes: 68.6 mph over 204.5 mile triangle 1972 - Robert Chase: 80.5 mph over 278 mile triangle 1971 - Andrew J. Smith: 65.1 mph over 154.0 mile triangle 1970 - James G. Smiley: 74.1 mph over 190.5 mile triangle 1969 - Wallace A. Scott, Sr. 1968 - Gleb Durujinsky, Jr. 1967 - Andrew J. Smith 1966 - George B. Moffat, Jr. 1965 - Richard E. Schreder 1964 - John D. Ryan 1963 - Richard E. Schreder 1962 - C.M. Mears, Jr. 1961 - Richard E. Schreder 1960 - Richard E. Schreder 1959 - Richard E. Schreder 1958 - Richard E. Schreder 1957 - Paul A. Schweizer 1956 - Lyle A. Maxey 1955 - Stephen J. Bennis |
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