Branch Rickey Award

Honoring Local Servants

Background

The FCA Branch Rickey Service Award recognizes those who demonstrate the FCA Values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence. It was initiated in 2017 as a special honor given to local FCA servants for their dedication and commitment to both their community and our sports ministry. These servants exemplify the same heart-felt dedication and genuine commitment of Branch Rickey, who played a key role in the birth of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Four of the early supporters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. From left to right: Dr. Louis R. Evans, Dr. Roe Johnston, Don McClanen and Branch Rickey. The four men are looking at a booklet produced by Guideposts magazine that introduced FCA.

Branch Rickey, a devout Christian man, is also remembered for his role in breaking baseball’s color line when he signed Jackie Robinson to a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He also invented baseball’s current affiliated minor league system.

Read more about Branch Rickey.

Each spring and fall, FCA executive leaders and the FCA Board of Trustees (BOT) meet in different cities across the FCA regions. Each time they meet, an FCA servant from the hosting region is honored with the Branch Rickey Service Award.

“It has been a true pleasure to work with local FCA staff around the country to honor individuals who exhibit the FCA Values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence. During these special meeting times for our leadership, it is a privilege to serve alongside these coaches, athletes and volunteers as they carry out the vision of FCA—to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.”
— Shane Williamson, FCA President and CEO.

Honorees


YEAR MEETING  HONOREE HOMETOWN  BOT MEETING LOCATION 
 2024   Lifetime Award  Coach Grant Teaff   Woodway, TX  Waco, TX
 2024   Fall  Todd Cover   Davidsville, PA  Pittsburgh, PA
 2024   Spring  Joseph Tan Huang Kew   Malaysia  Kansas City, MO
 2023   Fall  Patia Rountree  Statesboro, GA  Savannah, GA
 2023  Spring  Coach Dwight Lundeen  Becker, MN  Kansas City, MO
 2022  Fall  Roch Goch  South Jordan, UT  Salt Lake City, UT
 2022  Spring  Dan Turner  Bossier City, LA  Kansas City, MO
 2021  Fall  Don Stewart  Naples, FL  Naples, FL
 2021  Spring  Joe & Melody Balentine  Raymore, MO  Kansas City, MO
 2020  Spring  Janie Mueller  Colorado Springs, CO  
 2019  Fall  Bob MacLeod  Manchester, NH  Boston, MA
 2019  Spring  Coach Tom Allen  Bloomington, IN  Indianapolis, IN
 2018  Fall  Coach and A.D. Bill Lyle  Sioux City, IA  Kansas City, MO
 2017  Fall  Coach Keith Allen  Penticton, B.C.  Portland, OR

  • Spring 2019, ​Indianapolis, IN​
    • Coach Tom Allen - ​Bloomington, IN
  • Fall 2018, ​Kansas City, MO​
    • Coach and A.D. Bill Lyle - ​Sioux City, LA​
  • Fall 2017, ​Portland, OR​
    • Coach Keith Allen - ​Pentiction, B.C.

Criteria

The criteria include, but are not limited to, someone who:  

  • has a personal belief in and commitment to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord
  • demonstrates the FCA Values of Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence
  • demonstrates a commitment to participate in the ministry of FCA and further its purpose
  • has served the Lord for two or more decades to impact coaches and athletes through FCA
  • is not currently a member of FCA staff or the BOT
  • serves the region in which the BOT meeting takes place

Process

The Field Vice President (Field VP) of the region hosting the BOT meeting is responsible for:

  • sending the link to the online nomination form to their regional staff
    • The FCA President’s office will inform the Field VP when to start the process
  • reviewing the nominations
  • making the final decision (working alongside the FCA President)
  • arranging for the honoree and his/her family to attend the BOT meeting (the Support Center staff will assist in planning.)