Don Hoskins
Written by: Jann Raymond
N.C.C.C./C.C.I.
Appearing in the May/June 1973 issue of Blue Bars
If Corvette members ever had a friend, it was Don Hoskins.
On April 14, 1973, Don entered the hospital with a heart condition, and on April 15, we lost our friend -
but not the memories of what Corvettes and the people he met through Corvettes did for him, and for us.
Don had a knack for proving that Corvettes and N.C.C.C. members are one of the greatest in the ranks of sports car owners and clubs anywhere.
From being a Charter Member of N.C.C.C., to helping organize the Corvette Club of Iowa on April 15, 1962,
Don was the most dedicated member that N.C.C.C. and C.C.I. could ever have in their organization. Don purchased his 1960 Corvette,
which has always been in concours condition, after falling in love with them when he and his wife, Erna, attended a race at Road America.
Don received many honors in N.C.C.C. and other Corvette clubs around the states. He received a first place concours award in the
Corvette Corral at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; at Cadillac, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Baltimore, Maryland; not mentioning various
other concours that he received first place for.
One of Don's biggest thrills was receiving the President's Award from Rich Goranflo in 1968.
Don is the only N.C.C.C. member not holding an Office to ever receive this award, presented annually
to the person who has contributed the most to N.C.C.C.
A lot of you will remember Don at the Louisville Convention as the official flagman,
this being his number one job for C.C.I. and other sports car clubs as well as many conventions.
Don spent many hours promoting N.C.C.C. and Corvette clubs. He was never too busy to talk to you or take time out to explain to you what N.C.C.C. was.
If we would take one Corvette lover, add eight conventions, add a person who would help when asked, add a friendly smile and handshake,
add a super clean black 1960 Corvette ( he put all but one mile on it ) and what would we have? We would have Don Hoskins,
the member and friend that we won't forget. The one who was proud of his Corvette and his friends, and particularly his devoted wife, Erna.
Don was proud of his privilege and responsibility in helping N.C.C.C. and C.C.I. to be a brighter, happier organization, and to grow -
mentally, physically and spiritually. Don was dedicated to fulfilling his privilege and responsibility with integrity, energy and pride - and this he did.
Our sympathy goes to his wife, Erna, his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Mary, and to his grandson, Brian. W
e will all miss Don, but the memories will not be unremembered. For Don was a man with a Corvette, friends, and kindness in his heart.
The Don Hoskins Award is presented each year at the National Convention by the NCCC President.
The first Don Hoskins Award was presented in 1973 to Roth Shelly.
Three NICC Members have received the Don Hoskins Award.
Dale Samuelson is one of only two people to have received the award twice.
Dale Samuelson ~ 1992
Presented by President Patrick Dolan |
Dale & Carolyn Samuelson ~ 2000
Presented by President Richard Yanko |
Joan Thomas ~ 2009
Presented by President Richard Yanko
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