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Home | Torch Run | Torch Run Recognition Programs

Torch Run Recognition Programs

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Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their efforts to make the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run successful year after year?

Recognizing the volunteers who make the North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run so successful is very important and several awards exist to honor the people who dedicate their time and effort to raising funds for Special Olympics NC athletes.  Officers are encouraged to nominate each other for any of the awards listed below. Nominations are the due by Nov. 1 each year. Honorees are announced at the NC LETR Conference in January.

North Carolina Torch Run Awards

Bill Dalton Unsung Hero Award

The Bill Dalton Unsung Hero Award was created to recognize an outstanding individual who contributes to the Torch Run and Special Olympics in spirit, dedication and enthusiasm in an effective but unheralded fashion.

Most Improved Agency

The Most Improved Agency Award honors the Agency that has increased their Net Revenue the most since the previous year. This award is in recognition and appreciation of the agency’s dedication to grow their fundraising efforts. All nominees will be selected by the Special Olympics NC LETR staff after reviewing the accounting fundraising report.

Torch Run Photo Contest

The NC Torch Run Photo Contest is an opportunity for all LETR agencies to submit their Torch Run photos to show the immeasurable benefits that their agency offers to the athletes, officers and the community they serve. All photos must be from the previous fundraising year.  Each agency may submit a maximum total of 12 photos.  Please send photos after your events throughout the year to Leslie Moyar at lmoyar@sonc.net  and include the following information:

  • Submitting person’s name
  • Agency
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • Photographer’s Name
  • Date of Photo
  • Description of the photo

The winning photo will be selected by the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run Council.  Photos sent in prior to June 29 may also be submitted by the Special Olympics NC staff to the LETR International Conference I.A.C.P. photo contest.

NC Torch Run Hall of Fame

The NC Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed the Torch Run’s statewide success for Special Olympics.

Guardian of the Flame Award

The Guardian of the Flame award is open to any individual involved in the NC Torch Run. This award is based on the nominee’s ingenuity, motivation, commitment and dedication to the Torch Run.  The Torch Run Council will nominate all individuals for each category and selections will be made by the Torch Run Council Director(s) and the Special Olympics NC LETR staff.  To nominate an individual, Council Members must fill out the Guardian of the Flame Nomination Form.  To nominate an individual, please complete the nomination form and submit it to the NC Torch Run no later than November 1.

Top New Agency Award

The Top New Agency Award honors the agency that has raised the most funds their first year. In order to be eligible, an agency must be in it’s first active year with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics NC.  All nominees will be selected by the Special Olympics NC LETR staff by reviewing the accounting fundraising report.

Fundraising Excellence Award

The Fundraising Excellence Award will honor the agency that has developed a successful new fundraising idea or a new approach to an existing idea to revitalize it. All nominees will be selected by the Special Olympics NC LETR staff.

Chief of the Year

The Chief of the Year award is presented to the Chief of Police who demonstrates a strong example, leadership, dedication and commitment to the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Chief of the Year encourages his/her department’s involvement in fundraising, local/state games, relay/Final Leg, and the mission of public awareness for the NC Torch Run in his/her community.  All nominees will be selected by the Torch Run Council and the Special Olympics NC LETR staff.

Sheriff of the Year

The Sheriff of the Year award is presented to the Sheriff who demonstrates a strong example, leadership, dedication and commitment to the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Sheriff of the Year encourages his/her department’s involvement in fundraising, local/state games, relay/Final Leg, and the mission of public awareness for the NC Torch Run in his/her county.  All nominees will be selected by the Torch Run Council and the Special Olympics NC LETR staff.

Directors' Award

The Directors’ Award will honor a Law Enforcement Torch Run Coordinator who stands out to the Torch Run Council Director(s). The Director(s) will choose this individual based on their leadership, dedication and outstanding commitment to achieving the goals of their agency in raising funds to support Special Olympics.  All nominees will be selected by the Torch Run Council Director(s).

NC DPS Official of the Year Award

The NC DPS Official of the Year award is presented to the official who demonstrates a strong example, leadership, dedication and commitment to the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run. The NC DPS Official of the Year encourages his/her department’s involvement in fundraising, local/state games, relay/Final Leg, and the mission of public awareness for the NC Torch Run in his/her community.  All nominees will be selected by the Torch Run Council and the Special Olympics NC LETR staff.

LETR International Executive Council Athlete Award

The LETR International Executive Council Athlete Award was created to recognize outstanding Special Olympics Athletes who have contributed to the success of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® on a local, state or national level. The Athlete Award nominee should be someone who contributes to Torch Run and Special Olympics in spirit, dedication and enthusiasm in an effective fashion.

All Special Olympics and LETR Programs are invited to consider submitting a nomination for this award. Nominations, which must be submitted online using the LETR website. The deadline for nomination will be determined by LETR International Executive Council.

Past Inductees into the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame

Year Individual Agency
2004 Mike Teem Raleigh Police Department
2005 Bill Dalton Fayetteville Police Department
2005 Roy Forrest Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
2005 Wayne Sumpter Huntersville Police Department
2006 Martha Forrest Guilford County Sheriff’s Department
2006 William Frick Chapel Hill Police Department
2007 Hank Guess Hickory Police Department
2007 Tony Hamrick High Point Police Department
2008 Bill Lyons Wilkes County Community Corrections
2008  JD Parks  Chapel Hill Police Department
2009  Phillip Smith  Chapel Hill Police Department
2009  Karen Morrow  NC SBI
2009  Kendall Pike  NC ALE
2010  John Diggs  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
2010  Keith Jones  Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
2011  Tommy Newman  Raleigh Police Department
2012  Cindy Martin  Guilford County Sheriff’s Department
2012  Claudia Morgan  Winston-Salem Police Department
2013  Don Silardi Landis Police Department
2013 Sherry Bruscino Greensboro Police Department
2019  Cam Selvey Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
2022 Joseph Best Apex Police Department
2022 Bill Davis NC State University Police Department

Past Recipients of the Bill Dalton Unsung Hero Award

All members of the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame and recipients of the Bill Dalton Unsung Hero Award are commemorated on a plaque in the lobby of the Special Olympics North Carolina offices in Morrisville.

Year Individual Agency
 2007  Hilde Dalton
 2008  Mary Ann Propst  Raleigh Police Department
 2008  Ken Beaver  Piedmont Corrections Institute
 2009  Brian Henderson  Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
 2009  Dennie Crowder  Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
 2010  Mike Overman  Greensboro Police Department
 2010  Libby Grigg  Hickory Police Department
 2010  Gaye Dimmette  Wilkes County Correctional Center
 2011  Edwin Simpson  Pender Correctional Institution
 2012  Lester Lowe  Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
 2013  Sean Jones  New Hanover Sheriff’s Department
 2014  Al Negron  Winston-Salem Police Department
 2015  Tom Adkins  Hickory Police Department
 2017  Dennis Mecum  Division of Central Prisons

Past Recipients of the LETR International Executive Council Athlete Award

Year Individual Local Program
2020 Robin Callaway Mecklenburg County

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