By Gary Lloyd
Trussville Parks and Recreation Director David Vinson won a statewide parks and recreation award last month.
Vinson was named the Jim Spain Professional of the Year Award winner at the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state conference in Mobile.
It’s the highest award that someone can win in the parks and recreation profession, Vinson said. The award usually goes to someone who has been a member of ARPA for 20-plus years.
From left are Chris Coleman, Gayle Skipper, David Vinson, Sandi Wilson and Buddy Choat.
submitted photo
Vinson has been Trussville’s parks and recreation director for 17 years and has been an ARPA member for 28 years.
“I think it bodes well for a city that has somebody who has won the award,” Vinson said. “For me, it’s just a big honor.”
Vinson said he has been to the ARPA state conference 21 years in a row. This is the first time he has won an award there, he said. An awards committee picks the winner from applications they receive, Vinson said. The winner is announced at a banquet.
“It’s really a surprise to you,” he said, noting he delivered an off-the-cuff speech. “I had no idea that I was going to win it.”
Vinson said the award is for a combination of everything someone in the profession has done over the years, from that person’s own department to committees the person has been a part of. The Trussville City Council will recognize Vinson’s accomplishment at its next meeting Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at Trussville City Hall.
“It’s just a nice something to win for your career,” Vinson said
. “Not many people get an opportunity to win that. It’s just a nice award to get. People have noticed what you’ve done over the years. It’s a really nice award to get.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
