PPTC celebrates 40 years!
(excerpt from 'Notes from the Chair' by Alma M. Kasulaitis Oct. 1985)
In October 1966, Clay Grubic, who owns Tow Path Cycles, and approximately a dozen other cyclists got together to form a recreational bicycling club, called Potomac Pedalers Touring Club. Monthly meetings were held at Tow Path Cycles, which was then located on M Street in Georgetown, and the 2 monthly rides started from that shop. The members owned single speed or 3-speed bikes, and the rides rarely went over 35 miles for that season. It was rare to see a 10-speed bike and if you felt a driving desire to own one, you had to order it and wait about 8 weeks for it to come in.
A lot of the groundwork for bike paths in this area was laid by Potomac Pedalers under the direction of Clay Grubic.
The goal of the club was to reach a membership of 200 people. They had no idea how big it would become.
In order to join the club, you had to qualify as a cyclist by going on 3 club rides. Once you were a member you had to go on 3 rides a year in order to renew your membership.
The emblem we have today was designed by Bill Ballard in 1968. The newsletter was 1 to 2 pages and didn't always come out monthly.
2008 Marc Currie
2007 Catherine Kitchell
2006 Sigrid Haines
2005 John Zebatto
2004 Laurel Weir
2003 Michael Cohen
2002 Barbara Good
2001 Steve McGuire
2000 Louise Hirsch
1999 Lois Findlay
1998 John Stuhlmuller
1997 Andre Kruppa
1996 Eric Nielsen
1995 Paul Najarian
1994 Jack Ramsey
1993 Willa Friedman
1992 Dave Bates
1991 Dave Evans
1990 Richard Meinhold
1989 Robin Miller
1988 Bob Friedman
1987 Paul Lentz
1986 Willis Van Devanter
1985 Alma Kasulaitis
1984 Wally W. Brown
1983 Jay Brosnan
1982 Bob Cross
1981 John Herman
1980 Earl Martin
1979 Chuck Helfer
1978 James Fulton
1977 James Fulton
1976 John Wise
1975 Jerry Nugent
1974 John A. White
1973 Robert Lovelett
1972 Charles Robertson
1971 Betsy Harriman
1970 Art Milbourne
1969 Carl Cornett
1968 Francis Vall
1967 Clay Grubic
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Marc Currie | Catherine Kitchell | Sigrid Haines | John Zebatto | Laurel Weir | Michael Cohen | Barbara Good |
| Chair-Elect | Ed Brandt | Marc Currie | Catherine Kitchell | Sigrid Haines | John Zebatto | Laurel Weir | Michael Cohen |
| Treasurer | Dale Hunt | John Lynn | John Lynn | John Lynn | |||
| Membership Secretary | Debbie Reynolds | Debbie Reynolds | Clara Martinez | Clara Martinez | |||
| Recording Secretary | Gary Timmons | Gary Timmons | Emil Regelman | ||||
| Member at large | Steve Jones | Steve Jones | Butch Counts | Butch Counts | |||
| Eric Pilsk | Teresa Noonan | Teresa Noonan | |||||
| Steve Wartik | Steve Wartik | Gary Timmons | Gary Timmons | ||||
| Len Wilkinson | Bill Michie | Bill Michie |
Please email to add to this list.
Some Ride Leaders go out of their way to make everyone on a ride feel welcome and part of the group. They keep an eye on stragglers, help out with mechanical problems, and even sag the weary if necessary. Every year at the Annual Meeting, one such Ride Leader, nominated by the membership and selected by the Executive Committee, receives special recognition and an award. Peter LeGrand (1989) was the first recipient of the Good Shepherd Award, which was subsequently renamed in his memory.
The Peter LeGrand Good Shepherd Award has been given to the following exemplary Club members:
2007 Cynthia Priddy
2006 Brin Luther
2005 Mariette Vanderzon, Rigo Espinosa, Colleen McNerney
2004 Jeanette & Jay Howard
2003 Marvin Haas
2002 John Wannen
2001 Richard Whitt
2000 Barbara Binder
1999 Chris Moriarity
1998 Dan Lehman
1997 Anne Brown
1996 Glenn Gillis
1995 Larry Zaragoza
1994 Al Jones
1993 Alfredo Suescum
1992 Paul Carroll
1991 Bob Piper
1990 Jack Marney
1989 Peter LeGrand