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PERRY HAMPTON MEMORIAL AWARD
First,
let me give you a little history. Perry was born May 15, 1950 and died
April 5, 1979 of complications resulting from injuries when he stepped
on a landmine in Viet Nam.
Perry was one of the catalysts (as Tom Moore calls them) like Tom Moore, Scott Reid, Steve White, David Kincannon, and Keith Claggett who started LCC and kept it going until it was a full fledged club.
"He built a custom metallic blue Corvette, honed his skill as a photographer
and became active in forming and being involved in the Longhorn Corvette
Club. Perry stepped in to accept the tough jobs that we all wanted to shun.
He never asked for credit, never expected attention, compliments or laurels
for a job well-done and always had time to stop what he was doing to help
someone else. Oh, he wasn't an angel. He acted crazy, raised a little hell
with the rest of us, drank beer and believed in having a good time and
living life to the fullest. Perry always accepted everyone as friends and
I never heard him complain, carp or gossip about folks behind their back.
He was respected by the other Corvette Clubs around the state and put LCC's
interests first. In other words, he was what we regard as a good Corvette
person.
-- Tom Moore
"Perry was artistic and willing to share his talent with others, while
he could still get around without too much trouble. Perry dedicated himself
to helping form the club, and also to originating the club newsletter.
When he could, he participated actively ... He loved Corvettes and all
that goes with them, having a good time, and seeing other people enjoy
themselves."
-- Tricia Reid
"I knew Perry, but not as well as a lot of other people knew him, but
his house was always open, and he always had a blender of daiquiris ready
to pour. When he could he was always at the events with his camera taking
those great pictures.
In summary, the traits we all admired in Perry were:
His talent and willingness to share that talent
His hard work and dedication to the club
His warmth and friendliness which made him well liked and respected by
everyone
His love of Corvetting, having a good time, and seeing other people enjoy
themselves."
-- Gay Tiemann
"I think Perry would have been really happy to know that there is an award
commemorating him, an award that is the highest honor a member of the Longhorn
Corvette Club can receive. The past recipients are listed below, if you
ask any of them how they felt about receiving this special award you may
begin to get an idea what it truly means."
-- Alan Waters
FRIENDSHIP
A Perry Hampton Memorial Award Article
Written in 1982
by: Steve Hoes
Note: This article was originally written and published in 1982 and published again in 1992. Even though Steve Hoes is no longer with us the article still conveys the feeling many of us have about Perry and hopefully will help the LCC members who did not know Perry to understand and appreciate why we chose to commemorate him.
"A FEW THOUGHTS ON PERRY"
Basically, I dislike writing articles; seems I feel I never have anything worthwhile to say; this time I feel a little differently. In the past I have talked to other members who knew Perry, and commented how important it was to keep the memory of Perry alive, but it seems it's never the correct forum to talk about Perry, and relive old memories and good times. Recently though, I realized many of our members did not know Perry, having joined the club after his death in 1979. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about him, and to refresh those memories of Perry, to those of you who did know him.
Perry helped organize and found the club in 1973, after doing two tours of duty in Viet Nam. It was on this second re-enlistment that he was critically wounded, while helping a friend. Perry had just returned from his shift on patrol, when he found his relief too tired or hungover to take over. So, Perry volunteered to take his buddy's night patrol. While on patrol, Perry tripped a land-mine, and lost his leg in the process. Perry also received steel shrapnel, and had numerous scars from the mine. Perry was often sick during the years I knew him, although most of this friends never knew. Perry suffered quietly, not wanting sympathy or to have his friends worry about his ill health. While in the hospital, and during subsequent recuperation, Perry once again took up an old hobby of taking pictures. Perry's favorite subject matter was children, followed by flowers, women, and anything else of beauty. Perry had a knack of catching people, and children in particular, off guard, but always to their best advantage, never embarrassing or crude.
During the three years that I knew Perry, I came to respect and love him, for what he was, and what he believed in. He was always there in time of need, and would give unselfishly of himself to any and all.
The first night I met Perry was at an after-meeting party. I walked into his house, he greeted me with a smile and a warmth as if he had known me for life. He was like that to all he met. I never heard him say an unkind word against anyone. I think Perry felt like Will Rodgers in that, "He never met a man he didn't like," and conversely, no one ever met Perry who didn't like him. Perry was, and remains, the best, most gentle, caring person I have ever known. Perry loved women, putting them all on pedestals, where he said they belong. He told me once, that all women are beautiful, just some more than others. Perry tried hard to please, always putting others first, even when he was too sick to take care of himself. Perry went through hell in Nam, during a dozen or so operations, and months of therapy. He never complained; it was his duty; few people knew what exactly happened to Perry in Viet Nam, because he wasn't one to brag or complain about his situation.
I didn't intend to ramble on this long, but I seldom get a chance to talk of Perry, and the type of person he was. Hopefully, in future years, old and new members will reflect on who Perry was, and remember that the main reason for the PERRY HAMPTON MEMORIAL AWARD is to honor the memory of Perry, a charter member of LCC, who gave his all for his country, his club, and above all else, his friends. Perry truly personified the word 'Friend.' This is my best memory of Perry.
I am deeply honored to accept the PERRY HAMPTON MEMORIAL AWARD this year. I know of many worthy members, and I feel indeed fortunate and appreciative of this honor.
I hope each of us will learn a little of the good in Perry, and all be better persons for it. Perry believed, and passed it on.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
| Year | Recipent | Year | Recipient |
| 1979 | Mike Mitchell | 1980 | Steve White |
| 1981 | Steve Hoes | 1982 | Tom Moore |
| 1983 | Dave Doig | 1984 | Gay Tiemann |
| 1985 | Christine Hofer | 1986 | Chuck Lamme |
| 1987 | Larry Warrell | 1988 | Wayne Holiman |
| 1989 | Bert Hofer | 1990 | Billy House |
| 1991 | Allan Waters | 1992 | Sara Jane House |
| 1993 | Jackie Bussey | 1994 | Larry & Mary Anne Kolb |
| 1995 | David Morrow | 1996 | Jerry Stark |
| 1997 | Mike Johnston | 1998 | Connie Doig |
| 1999 | Tom Moore | 2000 | Keith Hutchison |
| 2001 | Karen Wenzlaff | 2002 | Everett Sturm |
| 2003 | Cathy Cody | 2004 | Don Fowler |
| 2005 | Bill Cody | 2006 | Melodee Hinkley |
| 2007 | Bob Nelson |