I believe we started awarding the Golden Shoe in 1991. The purpose of the Golden Shoe was to allow the Space Coast Runners Club to give annual recognition to an individual who has demonstrated over a sustained period of time his or her dedication to the sport of running along the space coast. The award has nothing to do with an individual’s running accomplishments.  

The following are the previous Golden Shoe Recipients in the order that they were recognized: Gary Harbison (1991), Harold Tucker (1992), Rhonda Butler and Marty Winkel (1993), Bill Dillard (1994), George Revels (1995), Henry Campbell (1996),Terry Hayden (1997), Dave Farrall (1998), Ken Winn (1999), John Chioma (2000), Linda Thompson (2001), Barry Jones (2002), Marlene White (2003), Ross Clarico (2004), Gene Ramba (2005), Patti Sponsler (2006), Loran Serwin (2007), Barbara Linton (2008), and Carol Ball (2009). Like everyone just mentioned, this year’s recipient needs no introduction.   

Over the past few years, he (that was hint #1) is frequently seen at the finish line (hint #2) at many of the races in Brevard County doing the timing (hint #3). If you get to the race early enough you will see him delivering the equipment (hint #4) regardless if he is timing or not. Obviously, he is the one to return the equipment after the race. I would hope everyone would also know that he is an SCR Board member (hint #5) and has been one for years.   

Everyone should know by now that we are talking about Dave Hernandez. What I’m sure most people do not know is that Dave is usually the first one to volunteer to do timing and bring the equipment. There have been several occasions when we struggled to find someone to do the timing and a vast majority of the time it was Dave who said he would do it. From personal experience, just this year, you’ve bailed me out when a race I was scheduled to do the timing moved their race to coincide with another race I was timing that day. Dave volunteered to do the timing of one of the races.   

I think everyone here owes Dave Hernandez a minimum of a round of applause and a great big “Thank You, Dave” for doing all that you do for us.