Order of the SPR
Order of the SPR
Highest Individual Award
“Safety, Professionalism, Reliability”
In Recognition of Significant and Enduring Contribution
The order of the SPR is the highest award the NPMA bestows on an individual and recognizes significant and enduring contributions to the aviation fueling world. Members of the order are eligible for consideration for the John “Jack” F. Lavin Lifetime Achievement Award.
Members of the Order of SPR have had real impact. The symbol is the universal aircraft fueling adapter, or “SPR,” the single point receptacle, an acronym coined by the military when the first large jet aircraft pressure refueling systems were designed and built in the late 1940s. SPR it has been for the past 60 years.
The people honored with induction into the order have one thing in common — they have that little extra making the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary. As the eligibility criteria state, they have accepted the challenges so that we feel the exhilaration and are inspired by their success. They epitomize that the purpose of life is to have a life of purpose.
There is no rank or order, rather they are all peers who have been the leaders, the doers, the innovators, the pioneers, the builders, the standard bearers; those who really stand out and made a difference. It is a quiet group, no pomp or fanfare; simply the very best of the best.
The plaque commemorating selection into the Order is the same SPR adapter that is fitted to every aircraft. The award was established in 1991.
Order of the SPR Inductees
1. |
John F. Lavin* Charter Member |
July 1, 1991 |
2. |
Paul W. Dupoise Charter Member |
July 1, 1991 |
3. |
Gomer C. Custer Charter Member |
July 1, 1991 |
4. |
Donald E. Rogers, Jr. |
July 13, 1991 |
5. |
Earl P. Denham |
April 30, 1992 |
6. |
Houston S. Sorenson |
July 31, 1992 |
7. |
William N. Penton* |
July 31, 1992 |
8. |
Don E. Kudrna |
July 31, 1992 |
9. |
Joseph E. Durham* |
August 15, 1992 |
10. |
James S. “Hose” Turner |
September 18, 1992 |
11. |
James W. Hopp |
September 19, 1992 |
12. |
M. Rayde Harrington |
September 30, 1992 |
13. |
William L. Fiedler* |
October 22, 1992 |
14. |
Gary D. Garlett |
July 15, 1993 |
15. |
John W. Anna |
July 22, 1993 |
16. |
Charles C. Nault |
September 10, 1993 |
17. |
Leslie O. Goodwin* |
October 1, 1993 |
18. |
Larry R. Dipoma* |
December 3, 1993 |
19. |
Patrick J. Chesterman |
June 2, 1994 |
20. |
Thomas J. Boland |
September 12, 1994 |
21. |
Joseph J. Volpe* |
September 16, 1994 |
22. |
Harold E. Glazener |
September 16, 1994 |
23. |
Richard L. Cisco |
March 2, 1995 |
24. |
Arnold R. Clegg |
March 2, 1995 |
25. |
Howard M. Gammon* |
March 2, 1995 |
26. |
Sanford A. Richardson |
March 2, 1995 |
27. |
Jack W. Holmberg |
March 2, 1995 |
28. |
Kathryn L. Pendergast |
March 13, 1995 |
29. |
Grat H. Horn, Jr. |
June 27, 1996 |
30. |
Charles J. DiBona |
November 7, 1996 |
31. |
Charles L. Delaney |
March 19, 1997 |
32. |
Gene H. Barr |
July 10, 1997 |
|
Carlton G. Shead Member Emeritus |
July 10, 1997 |
33. |
Harold W. Ensign* |
July 10, 1997 |
34. |
Donald H. Peschka |
July 10, 1997 |
35. |
Herbert O. Proksch* |
July 10, 1997 |
36. |
John E. Thomas* |
July 10, 1997 |
37. |
Bruce A. Wilbur |
July 10, 1997 |
38. |
Richard P. Dacey |
July 10, 1997 |
39. |
Thomas J. Roberson |
July 10, 1997 |
40. |
David M. Herrick |
July 30, 1997 |
41. |
Rickey P. Rice |
September 30, 1998 |
42. |
Richard Walte IV |
September 30, 1998 |
43. |
John J. Carr |
September 30, 1998 |
44. |
Pharris D. “PJ” Johnson |
September 29, 1999 |
45. |
Elvis “Mac” Fishburn* |
May 9, 2000 |
46. |
Patrick G. Mumme |
May 9, 2000 |
47. |
Fred C. Chitty |
May 9, 2000 |
48. |
Karl W. Deibler |
May 9, 2000 |
49. |
James J. Mandziara |
May 9, 2000 |
50. |
Bruce J. Hover* |
May 9, 2000 |
51. |
Donald L. Kinter |
May 9, 2000 |
52. |
Michael K. Kluttz |
May 9, 2000 |
53. |
Charles A. Park* |
May 9, 2000 |
54. |
John S. McCormick |
May 9, 2000 |
55. |
John C. Johnson |
May 12, 2000 |
56. |
Jose M. Mendez |
July 28, 2000 |
57. |
Ausba F. “Ozzie” Pinkham, III |
May 2, 2001 |
58. |
Robert A. Becker* |
May 2, 2001 |
59. |
Frank P. Morse |
May 2, 2001 |
60. |
Robert L. Jarvis |
May 1, 2002 |
61. |
Nathaniel C. Wilson |
May 1, 2002 |
62. |
Robert M. Hooks |
May 1, 2002 |
63. |
James D. Miller |
May 1, 2002 |
64. |
Bruce Overbay |
May 1, 2002 |
65. |
L. Arthur Van Rooy |
May 1, 2002 |
66. |
James R. Weldon |
October 29, 2003 |
67. |
Eric Boling |
October 29, 2003 |
68. |
Felix L. Shepard |
October 29, 2003 |
69. |
Stanley L. Zaucha* |
October 29, 2003 |
70. |
Vinton A. “Bud” Doll |
October 29, 2003 |
71. |
Sandra K. Walls |
October 29, 2003 |
|
Alvin T. Traynor Member Emeritus |
October 18, 2005 |
72. |
Robert G. Scully |
October 18, 2005 |
73. |
Gerard Biscardi |
October 18, 2005 |
74. |
Red Cavaney |
October 18, 2005 |
75. |
Thomas R. Ashman |
June 15, 2007 |
76. |
Danny “Mac” Jeffreys |
June 15, 2007 |
77. |
Keith R. Coggins |
June 15, 2007 |
78. |
Charles “RICK” Potts |
October 31, 2007 |
79. | Gary Crawford | October 31, 2007 |
80. | Russ Rhodes | October 31, 2007 |
81. | Mike Uffer | October 31, 2007 |
82. | Jim Gammon | April 28, 2009 |
83. | Nate Harvey* | April 28, 2009 |
84. | Don Sumner | April 28, 2009 |
85. | Arnold A. “Tom” Thomas | June 8, 2010 |
86. | Mike Wilkinson | June 10, 2010 |
87. | Gerald E. Soper | May 11, 2011 |
88. | Lyman L. Shannon | May 11, 2011 |
89. | Jack Vance | May 11, 2011 |
90. | David Eklund* | May 11, 2011 |
91. | Michael A. Giroux | May 30, 2012 |
92. | Michael D. Hooth | May 30, 2012 |
93. | David E. Soffrin | May 30, 2012 |
94. | Karl M. Overman | May 30, 2012 |
95. | Daniel P. Cetto | May 30, 2012 |
96. | Dean Flessas | November 20, 2013 |
97. | Ron Pattie | November 20, 2013 |
98. | John Cummings | November 20, 2013 |
99. | Rick McKenna | November 20, 2013 |
100. | Michael T. Nelson | November 20, 2013 |
101. | Bob Boseman | November 20, 2013 |
102. | Kin Chow | February 4, 2015 |
103. | Gregory Bean | February 4, 2015 |
104. | Alan Watson | February 4, 2015 |
105. | John Rhode | February 4, 2015 |
106. | Marsha Davis | February 4, 2015 |
107. | Cleburne Bernhard |
February 4, 2015 |
108. | Jeffrey Baquer |
February 4, 2015 |
109. | Phill Vonholtz |
April 27, 2016 |
110. | Mark Heinrich |
April 27, 2016 |
111. | Thomas McCartin |
April 27, 2016 |
112. | Frank Rechner |
April 27, 2016 |
113. | Scott Baker |
April 27, 2016 |
114. | Stuart D. Funk |
April 27, 2016 |
115. | Stan Livingston |
April 27, 2016 |
116 | Alan Reynolds |
April 27, 2016 |
117. | James Richardson |
April 27, 2016 |
118. | Samuel Varnicle | April 27, 2016 |
119. | Mr. Willie Robohn, USN Captain (Retired) | April 5, 2018 |
120. | Jack Appoloni | April 5, 2018 |
121. | Mr. William “Bill” Necker | April 5, 2018 |
122. | Mr. John Gassett | April 5, 2018 |
123. | Joseph “Joe” Lovan | April 5, 2018 |
124. | Steve (AKA Kevin) Kephart | April 5, 2018 |
125. | Mr. John Anaya | April 5, 2018 |
126. | Ms. Carol O’Leary | April 5, 2018 |
127. | Mr. Jim Young | January 27, 2019 |
128. | Mr. John Esada | January 27, 2019 |
129. | Mr. Mary Favero | January 27, 2019 |
130. | Mr. Kevin Ward | January 27, 2019 |
131. | Mr. William McCurry | January 27, 2019 |
132. | Mr. Frank Montalvo | January 27, 2019 |
133. | Mr. Terry DeSpain | January 27, 2019 |
134. | Mr. Jon Hatcher | January 27, 2019 |
135. | Mr. Gary Boley | January 27, 2019 |
136. | Mr. Bill Gibson | November 3, 2021 |
137. | Mr. John Leonard | November 3, 2021 |
138. | Mr. Mark Norris | November 3, 2021 |
139. | Mr. Ken Coggins | November 3, 2021 |
140. | Mr. Ron Crowl | November 3, 2021 |
141. | Mr. Kent Bredehoeft | November 3, 2021 |
142. | Mr. Rick Vanshoore | November 3, 2021 |
143. | Mr. Ron Roof | November 3, 2021 |
144. | Mr. Kris Allegood | November 3, 2021 |
145. | Mr. Bill Moody | November 3, 2021 |
146. | Mr. Tom Boriack | November 3, 2021 |
147. | Mr. Doug Collins | November 3, 2021 |
148. | Mr. Kevin Ward | November 3, 2021 |
149. | Mr. Mike Holgate | November 3, 2021 |
150. | Mr. Bill Rozier | November 3, 2021 |
151. | Mr. Vince Benedetti | November 3, 2021 |
* Deceased