by Rick Stonebraker.

Photos: Kim Hartman

Achievement Awards Presented to Michael Hojnacki and Ron Carmichael

Mike Hojnacki was presented with an achievement award at the TSAA annual meeting at Texas A&M University during the indoor state championship. The wording on the award states:

Make it Happen

Vision: Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor. - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mike has been involved in the TSAA since almost its beginning in the early 1980’s.  In the mid 80”s. Nancy Myrick of the Resident Athlete program for the National Archery Association (now called USA ARCHERY) called down to Texas and spoke with Mike about the possibility of having a FITA in the spring. That was the start of the Spring FITA, I t was actually held in the Galleria area.

In the 90’s, the NAA was looking for another USAT event and Mike was involved in that inception as well.

Mikes uniqueness is vision. When other TSAA presidents were merely trying to keep the TSS afloat, years later, Mike looked several years into the future to see where the TSAA was headed and under his presidency, he made it happen.

Also, there was only one major archer that was doing the majority of the judging in Texas and Mike took it upon himself to commit funds to train more judges. That idea has taken off and currently there are approximately a half dozen judges to handle the multitude of archery events in Texas

This award is the 3rd award of this kind presented to someone of outstanding character supporting the TSAA. This award is not the end of an involvement in the TSAA but just a beginning.  Congratulations Mike Hojnacki

Ron Carmichael was presented with an achievement award at the TSAA annual meeting at Texas A&M University during the indoor state championship. The wording on the award states:

Endurance

"Endurance is the power to withstand. Strength to maintain unwavering resolve through adverse conditions is the price of achievement."

ENDURANCE seemed to fit. Ron has ENDURANCE. No matter what people threw at him over the years, he handled it with grace and ample explanation..  

What Ron doesn’t know about archery, he hasn’t tried yet. About the only thing I can think of is SKI ARCHERY. His passion to understand and share the many aspects of archery has made the TSAA website one of the most viewed websites in the archery world.

Ron also visited Eagle Lake to get involved in field archery. He found out field archery was more photogenic than indoor and target. The unique terrain provided ample opportunities to take photos. Lots and lots and lots of photos that increased interest and participation in field archery.

He and Gina along with the rest of the field crew made the U.S. National Field C-ship a success. So much so, he hosted the state field the following two years in Austin, doing a great job.

This award is the 4th award of this kind presented to someone of outstanding character supporting the TSAA. This award is not the end of an involvement in the TSAA but just a beginning. Congratulations Ron Carmichael.