“Like anything in life, it evolves and changes,” Rick Mannen, chair of the Tomlin selection committee, said of a group winning. “It’s important to recognize that it’s not just athletes that do the most for the community. It can be others.” The award was conceived and introduced in 1976 by Ted Decoteau. It’s named in honour of Tomlin, a dedicated sports fan who was passionate about the community and those who represented it. Nominations are accepted each year for a person, organization or group that
has contributed the most for sport in Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations and Mississaugas of the New Credit. Decoteau was the steward of the award until 1999 when Mannen took over. Mannen won the award in 1985. “It was huge,” said the former world class marathoner. “It was for the larger community, including Six Nations and New Credit, the county and the city.
Frank Tomlin award, Rick Mannen, Ted Decoteau, Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations, Mississaugas of the New Credit, marathoner
This is kinda nice, 50 years and all.
So it’s for athletes doing community stuff? I feel like half the time those awards are just politics lol. Also “Frank Tomlin” sounds like a sports guy from the 70s but idk.
Wait, Rick Mannen won the award in 1985 and then became chair later? That seems like a conflict, or am I reading it wrong. I thought an award chair wouldn’t be eligible. Either way, 1976 is wild. Brantford has a lot of local sports history apparently.
I don’t get how they decide who “contributed the most for sport” across Brant County AND Six Nations AND Mississaugas of the New Credit like… do they split it? And why is it named after a sports fan, not an actual athlete? Sounds like whoever was “steward” kinda shaped everything since 1976. Congrats to them I guess but still seems complicated.