BYERLY-MANION SHIPMATE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Honoring a person or group whose actions have contributed to the furtherance of the mission of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter, this award bears the names of two Philadelphia-area alumni whose service to their country and our alma mater epitomizes our ideals. Capt. David H. Byerly, USNR (USNA 1921) served as Commanding Officer of a submarine rescue ship in World War II and financially endowed the Chapter’s efforts to support eligible candidates in their pursuit of an appointment to the Naval Academy. First Lt. Travis L. Manion, USMC (USNA 2004) was killed by enemy sniper fire while aiding and drawing fire away from his wounded comrades during a patrol mission in the Al Anbar province of Iraq in April 2007. His selfless actions, for which he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor, allowed every member of his patrol to survive.
Previous Award Recipients
2015 Harry ‘Skip’ Dittmann, USNA ’67
2014 The Honorable J. Robert “Bob” Kerrey
2013 Rear Admiral John G. King, SC, USN
2012 Rob Bender, USNA ‘73
2011 Kevin and Maureen Looney, parents of Lieutenant Brendan Looney, USN, USNA ‘04
2010 Tom and Janet Manion, parents of First Lieutenant Travis Manion, USMC, USNA ‘04
2009 Captain Fred P. Moosally, USN (ret.), USNA ‘66
2008 Larry Needle, Philadelphia Sports Congress
2007 Lieutenant Colonel Victor M. Gardner, USMC (ret.), USNA ‘77
2006 Colonel David A. Vetter, USMC (ret.), USNA ‘67
2005 Vice Admiral James F. Calvert, USN (ret.), USNA ‘43
2004 William F. Leahy, USNA ‘44
2003 Rear Admiral Tom Lynch, USN (ret.), USNA ‘64
2002 Corbin McNeil, Jr., USNA ‘62
2001 Captain J. O. Coppedge, USN (ret.), USNA ‘47
2000 Rear Admiral Thomas Seigenthaler, USN (ret.), USNA ’54, and
. Captain David McGuigan, USN (ret.), USNA ’57
1999 Captain Donald McRae, USNR (ret.)
1998 Ralph Hooper, USNA ‘51
1997 Richard Chuday, USNA ‘54
1996 Captain Walter Jenkins, USN (ret.), USNA ’30
1995 Rear Admiral Virgil Hill, USN (ret.), USNA ’61