Les Kinion Award

Les Kinion Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

Name of the Award: The Les Kinion Outstanding Service Award

Reason for the Award: Les Kinion managed our t-shirt operation for over 30 years. Besides coordinating the purchase of the shirts, Les spent countless hours boxing, shipping and/or delivering the t-shirts to the race committee, participants and volunteers. He also served as a finish line judge for many years. He was hardworking, always willing the join in on whatever needed to be done to help the race, and he always had a smile on his face. Simply put, there was nothing that Les wouldn’t do in order to ensure the smooth operation of any aspect of the race. Besides his work with us, Les was one of the founders of the Baltimore Road Runners Club and the Director of the Maryland Marathon during the 1970s and 1980s. Les died from a heart attack in July 2014.

Who is Eligible: Any individual who has given years of outstanding service to the event either as a member of the organizing committee or as a race volunteer (not necessarily on the committee). The nominee must be living at the time of the nomination. Past honorees are not eligible (see below for all past honorees).

Nominating procedure: Nominations may come from any member of the Cherry Blossom, Inc. organizing committee. Nominations for 2025 will open in February.

Award: A perpetual award in Les’s name is maintained in the office. Each year the winner will receive a personal award, a certificate and $2,500 to be used for travel to a running event or another destination of his or her choosing.

Nomination Deadline: Nominations have closed.

Winner Announced: The winner will be announced at the Saturday night of race weekend VIP-Sponsor-Elite Athlete dinner.

Thoughts or questions: Please direct any thoughts or questions to Jeff Darman at jeff@darmangroup.com.