Gordon FMWR at the top of its game

Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett William Wren, chief of the recreation division. Commitment to excellence in programs is a priority for the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and top awards prove it.

"I feel honored and privileged we have received these awards. There are thousands of MWR folks in the five services," said William Wren, chief of the recreation division about the four Armed Forces Recreation Society awards Fort Gordon employees will be presented at the National Recreation and Park Association/ AFRS Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 12-16.

Heidi Mohr, manager of Hilltop Riding Stables, and Fred Perry, outdoor recre- ation branch manager, will receive special citations for "significant contributions to the field of armed forces recreation in the area of leadership, public relations, pioneering or research. These individuals have contributed significantly to the recreation program at the installation level."

Larry Coggins, manager of Pointes West Army Recreation Area, has been named a Fellow Award winner as a current AFRS/NRPA member who has "the responsibility of overseeing and implementing the recreation program."

Wren nominated Mohr, Perry and Coggins for the honors; however, he was unaware that he was nominated for an award as well.

"I was surprised," said Wren upon learning about his executive fellow award, which "recognizes the accomplishments of management staff at the headquarters, major command, major subcommand and/or installation level. These individuals are responsible for recreation program management. They must have a minimum of five years fulltime experience."

The executive fellow award could be considered a type of lifetime achievement award.

Wren has worked in recreation since graduating from Georgia Southern University in 1972. He spent his first six years in the civilian community before coming out to Fort Gordon.

Wren said to be honored at the Armed Forces level the candidates had to go through many levels of competition from the regional level to the Department of the Army level before being considered.

Other individuals and programs were nominated, and some narrowly missed being awarded at higher levels.