On Friday evening, June 2, the Appalachian Trail Museum held its Seventh Annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Comfort Suites in Carlisle, PA. Four titans of the A.T. were inducted into the Hall of Fame, Harlean James of Washington, DC; Charles Parry of Blacksburg, VA; Mildred Norman "Peace Pilgrim" Ryder of Egg Harbor, NJ; and Matilda "Tillie" Wood of Roswell, GA. The representatives of each honoree were given a custom hiking stick made by John "Bodacious" Beaudet. Master of Ceremonies for the Banquet was Ron Tipton, President and CEO of Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
From left, Gloria Perry for Charles Perry; Bruce Nichols for Peace Pilgrim; Neville Harris for Tillie Wood; and Laurie Potteiger for Harlean James
Beginning in the 1920s, Harlean James played a large role in the initial organization of the movement to create an Appalachian Trail. In accepting the award, Laurie Potteiger of ATC described Ms. James as a skilled planner and organizer who was frequently consulted by A.T. founders Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. She also provided office space for ATC and other trail groups in Washington, DC. She is not well known today, in part due to her extreme personal modesty.
Charles Parry was described as a relentless Appalachian Trail volunteer. He served as the Roanoke A.T. Club's trail supervisor from 1976 until his death in December 2010, shaping nearly all of the 120 miles the club maintains. Mr. Parry's widow, Gloria Perry, accepted the hiking stick award. She described her late husband as a lucky man who had two great passions, teaching mathematics to his students at Virginia Tech University and the Appalachian Trail. She said: "The interest he took in maintaining the Appalachian Trail was a great benefit to all. His work there was truly a labor of love."
Despite the popular belief that Grandma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire A.T. in one year, Mildred Norman Ryder, universally known as "Peace Pilgrim", accomplished that feat in 1952. Bruce Nichols of the Friends of Peace Pilgrim accepted the award for Peace Pilgrim who died in 1981. Nichols read an excerpt from Peace Pilgrim's book on the value of hiking: "If you are free, I recommend a hike on a wilderness footpath. How inspiring it is to walk all day in the sunshine and sleep all night under the stars. What a wonderful experience in simple, natural living..."
Matilda "Tillie" Wood spent 21 years operating an A.T. hostel near Pearisburg, VA. She gave hikers a place to rest, shower and warm their bellies with a Southern breakfast. Woods Hole became known as one of the most beloved hostels on the A.T. Tillie's daughter Mary Jo Wood and granddaughter Neville Harris accepted the hiking stick on behalf of Tillie, who died in 2007. Neville and her husband Michael continue to operate Woods Hole. Neville described her grandmother's affection for the A.T. and especially the many hikers she met and helped over the years.
Three additional awards were given at the Banquet. Laurie Potteiger received the Museum's Lifetime Achievement Award from Museum founder and President Larry Luxenberg. Larry described Laurie at "totally dedicated to the Trail" in her longtime role as Information Services Manager at ATC. He said Laurie has become "the face of the Trail and in many ways the most knowledgeable person about the Trail..." Laurie has also been involved since the beginning in the movement to create an Appalachian Trail Museum. The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau received the 2017 Partnership Appreciation Award in honor of its generous financial support and advice to the Museum. Ron Tipton was given a special commemorative hiking stick to mark his upcoming retirement as President and CEO of ATC.
Charles Parry was described as a relentless Appalachian Trail volunteer. He served as the Roanoke A.T. Club's trail supervisor from 1976 until his death in December 2010, shaping nearly all of the 120 miles the club maintains. Mr. Parry's widow, Gloria Perry, accepted the hiking stick award. She described her late husband as a lucky man who had two great passions, teaching mathematics to his students at Virginia Tech University and the Appalachian Trail. She said: "The interest he took in maintaining the Appalachian Trail was a great benefit to all. His work there was truly a labor of love."
Despite the popular belief that Grandma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire A.T. in one year, Mildred Norman Ryder, universally known as "Peace Pilgrim", accomplished that feat in 1952. Bruce Nichols of the Friends of Peace Pilgrim accepted the award for Peace Pilgrim who died in 1981. Nichols read an excerpt from Peace Pilgrim's book on the value of hiking: "If you are free, I recommend a hike on a wilderness footpath. How inspiring it is to walk all day in the sunshine and sleep all night under the stars. What a wonderful experience in simple, natural living..."
Matilda "Tillie" Wood spent 21 years operating an A.T. hostel near Pearisburg, VA. She gave hikers a place to rest, shower and warm their bellies with a Southern breakfast. Woods Hole became known as one of the most beloved hostels on the A.T. Tillie's daughter Mary Jo Wood and granddaughter Neville Harris accepted the hiking stick on behalf of Tillie, who died in 2007. Neville and her husband Michael continue to operate Woods Hole. Neville described her grandmother's affection for the A.T. and especially the many hikers she met and helped over the years.
Three additional awards were given at the Banquet. Laurie Potteiger received the Museum's Lifetime Achievement Award from Museum founder and President Larry Luxenberg. Larry described Laurie at "totally dedicated to the Trail" in her longtime role as Information Services Manager at ATC. He said Laurie has become "the face of the Trail and in many ways the most knowledgeable person about the Trail..." Laurie has also been involved since the beginning in the movement to create an Appalachian Trail Museum. The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau received the 2017 Partnership Appreciation Award in honor of its generous financial support and advice to the Museum. Ron Tipton was given a special commemorative hiking stick to mark his upcoming retirement as President and CEO of ATC.
Ron Tipton, President & CEO, Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, delivered brief remarks. Randy "Windtalker" Motz provided music during the reception.
On Saturday, June 3, the Museum held its annual Festival, at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Events included remarks by the representatives of the four new Hall of Fame honorees, talks by four authors of A.T. related books and a picnic lunch.
Below is a slideshow of pictures from the Banquet.
On Saturday, June 3, the Museum held its annual Festival, at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Events included remarks by the representatives of the four new Hall of Fame honorees, talks by four authors of A.T. related books and a picnic lunch.
Below is a slideshow of pictures from the Banquet.
HERE is a link to the video of the 2017 Hall of Fame Banquet.
Below is a slideshow of pictures from the Museum Festival on June 3.
Below is a slideshow of pictures from the Museum Festival on June 3.
All photos courtesy Dan Innamorato
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