There are several awards given by the Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville to express our appreciation to members and officers for their hard work, dedication, loyalty, commitment and valuable service to the club and the University of Georgia.

The Wally Butts Award

This is the oldest of all our awards. It was named in honor of Wallace (Wally) Butts, Head Football Coach from 1939 until 1960. Under his tutelage, Georgia had 140 wins, 86 losses and nine ties. His Bulldogs won four SEC Championships, had an undefeated season in 1946,and played in eight bowl games. He coached Frank Sinkwich, 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, and Charlie Trippi, 1946 Maxwell Award winner. Ted Twomey, the first recipient of the Wally Butts Award, was a former assistant coach at the University of Georgia.

  • 1972 Ted Twomey
  • 1973 John Tillman
  • 1974 Bill Hines
  • 1976 Mrs. Wally Butts
  • 1977 John Bell
  • 1978 Rex Edmondson
  • 1979 Jack Bush
  • 1980 Fred Miller
  • 1981 Howard H. Davis, Jr.
  • 1982 Earl Horne
  • 1983 Fred Farah
  • 1984 Norman Harrison
  • 1985 McCarthy Crenshaw
  • 1986 Dale Bassett
  • 1987 Tim Bunch
  • 1988 Mike LaHood
  • 1989 Donald Fowler
  • 1990 John Short, Jr.
  • 1991 Drew Story
  • 1993 Susan Wildes
  • 1994 Janet Gratiano
  • 1995 Chuck Sussman
  • 1996 Bill McQuaig
  • 1997 Vicki Joiner
  • 1998 Bob Pevy
  • 1999 Faye Shepherd
  • 2000 Bud McCleskey
  • 2001 Travis Cummings
  • 2002 Paul Klimp
  • 2003 Randy Corbin
  • 2004 Paul Fangman
  • 2005 Leigh Beal
  • 2006 Sam Carter
  • 2007 Randy Bishop
  • 2008 James Young
  • 2009 John Boney
  • 2010 Bill Lewis
  • 2011 James Young
  • 2012 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2013 Bill Graham
  • 2014 Jane Gardner
  • 2015 Mona Hover
  • 2017 Randy Bishop
  • 2018 John Boney
  • 2019 Pamela Hardy
  • 2022 Dan Redden
  • 2023 John Short

The President’s Award

This award is given at the sole discretion of that year’s President. The recipient is a person who rendered valuable assistance to the President during their year.

  • 1974 F.F. “Ty” Davidson
  • 1977 McCarthy Crenshaw
  • 1978 Bert Reid
  • 1979 Drew Story
  • 1980 Dan Redden
  • 1981 James R. Walker
  • 1982 Fred Farah
  • 1983 Ronnie Pollock
  • 1984 Bubba Schlader
  • 1985 Dot Bissell
  • 1986 Mike LaHood
  • 1987 Susan F. Wildes
  • 1988 Ben English
  • 1989 Mike Gratiano
  • 1990 Jack Bush
  • 1991 Janet Gratiano
  • 1993 Mary Shannon
  • 1994 Mary Shannon
  • 1995 Vicki Joiner
  • 1996 Bud McCleskey
  • 1997 Bill McQuaig
  • 1998 Travis Cummings
  • 1999 Linda Amos
  • 2000 Bob Kuhn
  • 2001 Paul Klimp & Dave Rodenroth
  • 2002 Amy Robertson
  • 2003 Paul Klimp & Hank Staley
  • 2004 Catherine Dineen & Thomas Bolton
  • 2005 Jeremy Miller
  • 2006 Bill Lewis
  • 2007 Kelly McGinnis
  • 2008 Mike Gratiano & Bud McCleskey
  • 2009 Jennifer & Adam Lewis
  • 2010 Mike Gratiano
  • 2011 Troy Bankston
  • 2012 Melody Johnston
  • 2013 Bud McCleskey
  • 2014 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2015 Kyle McClung
  • 2016 John Boney
  • 2017 Bruce Ferguson
  • 2018 Larry DeFoor
  • 2019 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2021 Sean Stenson
  • 2022 Jane Gardner
  • 2023 John Boney

The Mike Castronis Award

Coach Mike was a native of Jacksonville and was an outstanding high school athlete. As linemen go, he was small, but he made up for it in all his endeavors as a player, coach and citizen. He was tenacious in life and as death approached. This award is given in his name to honor those who epitomize his spirit and love for the University of Georgia.

  • 1983 Coach Mike Castronis
  • 1984 Loran Smith
  • 1985 Lewis Grizzard
  • 1986 Dave Muia
  • 1987 Buddy Carroll, Jr.
  • 1988 Claudia O’Steen
  • 1989 Freddy Jones
  • 1990 Vicki Joiner
  • 1991 Mary Shannon
  • 1992 Etta Drashin
  • 1994 Drew Story
  • 1994 Phil Yonge
  • 1995 Jeryl Tuten
  • 1996 Howard Davis, Jr.
  • 1997 Kit Trensch
  • 1998 Bob Pevy
  • 1999 Bob Kuhn
  • 2000 Barbara Hartman Howell
  • 2001 Jack and Dena Davis
  • 2002 Dave Rodenroth
  • 2003 Mike Gratiano & Bud McCleskey
  • 2004 Maria Viccaro
  • 2005 Linda Dubbs
  • 2006 Randy Bishop
  • 2007 Todd Osburn & Family
  • 2008 Randy Bishop
  • 2009 Troy Bankston
  • 2010 Troy Bankston
  • 2010 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2011 Janet Gratiano
  • 2012 Paul Fangman
  • 2013 Heather Lear
  • 2014 Kevin Clark
  • 2015 Melody Johnston
  • 2016 Pamela Hardy
  • 2017 Kyle McClung
  • 2018 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2019 Melody Johnston Boles
  • 2022 John Boney
  • 2023 Jimbo McCarthy

The McCarthy Crenshaw Award

Given annually to the Outstanding Senior Athlete at the University of Georgia from the state of Florida. It bears the name of one of the original organizers of the Georgia Bulldog - Alumni Club of Jacksonville. He excelled, not only in the classroom (Phi Beta Kappa), but also in three sports: football, basketball and track. He was the first out-of-state President of the Georgia Alumni Society. He was sincere in his love, devotion, service and dedication to his university.

  • 1978 Steve Collier
  • 1979 Paul Petrisko
  • 1980 Gordon Terry
  • 1981 Mike Fisher
  • 1982 Ronnie Stewart
  • 1983 Jim Broadway
  • 1984 Tommy Thurson
  • 1985 Mike Brinson
  • 1986 Julie Klick
  • 1987 Scott Bonike
  • 1988 Lester Carrodeguas
  • 1989 Roger Miller
  • 1991 Keli Butler
  • 1992 Jeffrey Poppell
  • 1993 Casey Barnum
  • 1994 Angela Lettiere
  • 1995 Jennie Orr
  • 1996 Erin O’Neil
  • 1997 Erin O’Neil
  • 1998 Julia Boros
  • 1999 Jenni Beathard
  • 2000 Marrisa Catlin
  • 2001 Andy Neufeld
  • 2002 Will Witherspoon
  • 2003 Maritza Correia
  • 2004 Decory Bryant

The Dan Magill Award

The University of Georgia Athletic Association, through the Georgia Bulldog - Alumni Club of Jacksonville presents this award, named for the “Red and Black” long-time servant, sports information, football and tennis historian, and championship tennis coach who brought a top tennis facility and the NCAA Tennis Hall of Fame to Georgia.

  • 1986 Howard Davis, Jr.
  • 1986 Freddie Miller
  • 1987 John Tillman
  • 1988 Vernon Brinson
  • 1991 Fred Farah
  • 1991 Jack Bush
  • 1997 Mike Gratiano
  • 1998 Rex Edmondson

The John Tillman Award

“Mr. Bulldog!” or “Mr. Georgia!” - Nobody would consider calling anyone these names but John Tillman especially in the Southeast and Jacksonville. John Tillman, even before going to Georgia, thought of nothing else but playing football for the Bulldogs and graduating from “The Classic City of the South”. His love, dedication and commitment to the Dawgs, the Red and Black and to Georgia has never been equaled.

  • 1975 Howard H. Davis, Jr.
  • 1976 W.C. “Buddy” Carroll
  • 1977 Drew Story
  • 1978 Earl Horne
  • 1979 Charlie Caddell
  • 1980 Fred Farah
  • 1981 Dan Redden
  • 1982 Howard H. Davis, III
  • 1983 Ralph Langford
  • 1984 Bill Lee
  • 1985 Bob Williams
  • 1986 Bubba Schlader
  • 1987 Dale Bassett
  • 1988 Tim Bunch
  • 1989 Mike LaHood
  • 1990 Donald & Eileen Fowler
  • 1991 Bill McQuaig
  • 1992 Bob Pevy
  • 1993 Dale & Donna Fisher
  • 1994 Butch Hines
  • 1995 W.C. “Bud” McCleskey
  • 1996 Vicki Joiner
  • 1997 Mike Gratiano
  • 1998 Glenn Champion
  • 1999 Travis Cummings
  • 2000 Bob Kuhn
  • 2001 John Short
  • 2002 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2003 Cam Stanfield
  • 2004 Ray Wolford
  • 2005 Ben English
  • 2006 Paul Klimp
  • 2007 Dave Pesterfield
  • 2008 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2009 Larry DeFoor
  • 2010 Debra Burgess
  • 2011 Bill Lewis
  • 2012 James "Jim" Walker
  • 2013 John Boney
  • 2014 Robert Todd
  • 2015 Jane Gardner
  • 2016 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2017 Melody Johnston
  • 2018 Jane Gardner
  • 2019 Kyle McClung
  • 2021 John Short
  • 2022 Sean Stenson
  • 2023 Tyson Lassen

The Damn Good Dawg Award

Presented for Valuable Contributions, Dedication and Loyal Service to the Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville.

  • John Thornhill
  • Dave Muia
  • 1998 Sam Kouvaris
  • 2003 Dr. Robert Fore & Larry DeFoor
  • 2007 Bill Lewis
  • 2008 Troy Bankston
  • 2009 Debra Burgess & Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2010 Randy Bishop
  • 2011 Melody Johnston & H. Pope Richter
  • 2012 Jennifer Lewis
  • 2013 Joel Lamp & Robert Todd
  • 2014 Kyle McClung
  • 2015 Drew Story
  • 2016 Bob Kuhn
  • 2017 John Short and his son, David
  • 2018 Melody Johnson and Pamela Hardy

The Bud McCleskey Damn Good Dawg Award

The Damn Good Dawg Award was renamed in 2019 in memory of our dear friend, Bud McCleskey. Bud was the ultimate Damn Good Dawg and will always be with us as a part of this organization.

  • 2019 Jane Gardner and John Boney
  • 2020 Mary Shannon Daniel
  • 2021 Danese Hendrick
  • 2022 Thomas Bolton
  • 2023 Frank Howell

The Michael A. Gratiano, Jr. Award

Presented by our scholarship foundation, the Jacksonville Bulldog Alumni Scholarships, this award is named for Michael A. Gratiano, Jr., the founding Chairman of the Vince Dooley Scholarship. It was given for the first time in 2009 to Mike for his vision, direction, commitment and dedication to the Vince Dooley Scholarship and to the University of Georgia.

  • 2009 Michael A. Gratiano, Jr.
  • 2012 Larry DeFoor
  • 2019 Coach Vince Dooley
  • 2023 Mary Shannon Daniel