Grapevine Award Speeches Now Available
GRAPEVINE, Tex. – As noted in a VBD report on September 8, Anne Roth and Gregg Hartney were the respective recipients of the Jonathan Brody Award and the Outstanding Coaching Award at the Grapevine Classic. Jane Boyd has sent VBD the speeches presented at the awards ceremony for these two prestigious awards and their most deserving recipients.
PRESENTATION OF JONATHAN BRODY AWARD TO ANNE ROTH
In August of 1997 the debate community lost a valued member with the passing of Jonathan Brody.
Jonathan was an outstanding high school debater from The Kinkaid School where he won TFA State and the top speaker at the TOC. Jonathan had a difficult time in high school with parents who divorced and one of those parents never really supporting his time in debate. In college Jon debated at Iowa and Texas where he was considered one of the most innovation and best debaters in the country. His senior year, Jonathan was awarded the Golden Bear Award for outstanding service to debate.
In 1993-94 volunteered his services to many high schools including the Grapevine Debate team.
Upon his passing, the Grapevine debate team modeled an award like the Golden Bear to be named the Jonathan Brody Service to debate award.
The criteria is:
1. Extraordinary commitment to debate
2. Perseverance
3. Overcoming Obstacles to remain in debate
4. Outstanding Assistance to other in the activity.
5. A Senior debater participating in the Grapevine Classic
This year we had six wonderful nominees for this award. All were very deserving but one stood out above the rest. Understanding we all have difficulties, the circumstances in this young woman’s life truly epitomize the intent of the award.
Also — for the first time in the ten years — the award is taking on a national scope.
The 10th recipient of the Jonathan Brody Service to Debate award is from Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa – Anne Roth.
PRESENTATION OF GRAPEVINE CLASSIC OUTSTANDING COACHING AWARD TO GREGG HARTNEY
Devotion, sacrifice, tears and cheers are all a part of the life of a Forensic coach. This year, I would like to honor a person that we feel is the hallmark of a dedicated coach who loves the activity and has longevity to prove it.
Teaching in Fort Worth, Texas in the late 1970s he prepared debaters from an inner city minority high school to national recognition when they were invited to the Emory tournament. He clearly saw talent and was dedicated to students who otherwise would not get the opportunities of the primarily white schools of the time.
He moved to Oklahoma and while primarily a debate coach; he has coached students to Nationals in DI and even has a Poetry National Champion.
Mr. Aaron Timmons recalls having this gentleman judge him when Mr. Timmons was in college. Mr. Timmons has also, in many conversations, talked of this man’s honor, honestly, and ethics that he and can always be trusted to do the right thing.
I personally recall first meeting this man at a Plano tournament over fifteen years ago – he hasn’t changed a bit and always greets me with a smile and seems to truly enjoy being at debate tournaments even after all these year.
In a time when it seems that young coaches are getting the attention – I think it is appropriate to give recognition to a pioneer of equality of opportunity and for longevity and dedication to the activity.
Please honor this year’s Grapevine Classic Coach of the year – from Jenks High School, Oklahoma – Gregg Hartney.
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