The Richard C. du Pont Memorial Trophy


Awarded each year to the U.S. National Open Class Soaring Champion, as determined at the annual U.S. National Open Class Soaring Championship.

The trophy, symbolic of thermal soaring flight, is a bronze casting mounted on a mahogany base and is 24 ¼ inches high overall.   It was presented to SSA in 1947 by Mrs. Allaire du Pont in memory of her husband, Richard C. du Pont U.S. National Soaring Champion in 1934, 1935 and l937 who died in the crash of an experimental military glider September 12, 1943.  

The trophy is perpetual and is passed from champion to champion.   The winner's names with dates are engraved on metal plates attached to the pedestal.   In addition, each winner receives a bronze medallion bearing a bas-relief representation of the trophy for his permanent possession.   With the trophy, Mrs. du Pont gave the Soaring Society 20 medallions.   This trophy succeeded the Edward S.  Evans Trophy, the original national championship trophy.

( restoration and photo courtesy of Tom Huffstutler )

U.S. National Soaring Champions who have held the Richard C. du Pont Memorial Trophy are as follows:

2024 - Keith Essex: Minden, NV
2023 - Dick Butler: Cordele, GA
2022 - Dick Butler: Hobbs, NM
2021 - Dan Mockler: Minden, NV
2020 - No Contest: Minden, NV
2019 - Jim Lee: Hobbs, NM
2018 - Dick Butler: Uvalde, TX
2017 - Doug Jacobs: Cordele, GA
2016 - Keith Essex: Nephi, UT
2015 - Dick Butler: Hobbs, NM
2014 - Bill Gawthrop: Montague, CA
2013 - Ronald S. Tabery: Hobbs, NM
2012 - Rick Indrebo: Minden, NV
2011 - Ronald S. Tabery: Uvalde, TX
2010 - Ronald S. Tabery: Hobbs, NM
2009 - Garret Willat: Montague, CA
2008 - Richard Butler: Uvalde, TX
2007 - No contest
2006 - Elizabeth Schwenkler: Hobbs, NM
2005 - Nelson Funston: Ephrata, WA
2004 - Richard Butler: Uvalde, TX
2003 - Richard Butler: Cordele, GA
2002 - Ronald S. Tabery: Uvalde, TX
2001 - Brett R. (Rex) Mayes & James K. (Chip) Garner: Montague, CA
2000 - Sherman Griffith: Uvalde, TX
1999 - Tom & James Payne: Reedsville, PA
1998 - Sherman Griffith: Uvalde, TX
1997 - H. Ray Gimmey: Minden, NV
1996 - Ronald S. Tabery: Hobbs, NM
1995 - H. Ray Gimmey: Minden, NV
1994 - Ronald S. Tabery
1993 - Ronald S. Tabery: Littlefield, TX
1992 - Dale Bush: Hobbs
1991 - H. Ray Gimmey
1990 - Karl Striedieck
1989 - Tom Knauff
1988 - Kenneth Sorenson
1987 - Ronald S. Tabery
1986 - H. Ray Gimmey
1985 - Richard H. Johnson
1984 - H. Ray Gimmey
1983 - Allen L. Leffler
1982 - George Moffat, Jr.
1981 - Richard H. Johnson
1980 - Richard Butler
1979 - Richard Butler
1978 - Andrew J. Smith
1977 - Richard Butler
1976 - Al Leffler
1975 - Richard H. Johnson
1974 - Ben Greene
1973 - George B. Moffat, Jr.
1972 - H. Ray Gimmey
1971 - Andrew J. Smith
1970 - Ross Briegleb
1969 - George B. Moffat, Jr.
1968 - Ben Greene
1967 - Andrew J. Smith
1966 - Richard E. Schreder
1965 - Dean Svec
1964 - Richard H. Johnson
1963 - Richard H. Johnson
1962 - John D. Ryan
1961 - Andrew J. Smith
1960 - Richard E. Schreder
1959 - Richard H. Johnson
1958 - Richard E. Schreder
1957 - Stanley W. Smith
1956 - Lyle A. Maxey
1955 - Kempes Trager
1954 - Richard H. Johnson
1953 - Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
1952 - Richard H. Johnson
1951 - Richard H. Johnson
1950 - Richard H. Johnson
1949 - Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
1948 - Paul B. MacCready, Jr.
1947 - Richard J. Caney


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