From time to time PSPA recognizes a ski patroller as its recipient for the Larry Collins Memorial Award. The award can be earned for a single meritorious act during the ski season or for significant contributions to ski patrolling over a period of years.

Larry Collins exemplified the qualities we look for in a patroller. In addition to being a conscientious patroller, he showed great perseverance and determination, as it took him three tries before he was successful in passing the PSPA exam. He then went on to become one of our best presidents, overseeing the expansion of PSPA in addition to providing much needed stability and efficiency. Mr. Collins eventually relocated to the West, where he was instrumental in establishing the Western division of PSPA. He died tragically shortly after returning to New Hampshire.

The individual selected by the Board of Directors does not necessarily have to be a PSPA member, but should be a full time patroller.

	The Larry Collins Award was presented to Jim Webb by the PSPA President, Jerry Brown.

In 2003 the Larry Collins Award was presented to James P. Webb. Jimmy Webb is a warm, enthusiastic, and helpful human being, who is a natural coach and an effective, dedicated ski patrol trainer. Jimmy fits everyone’s model of a good friend. He is an astonishingly talented skier, sled handler, and teacher, without being overly impressed with any of those things. His commitment to the fraternity of patrollers and his belief in the value of persistent training are unshakeable. In his quiet, unassuming, but extremely competent way, he will give the ski patrol world much more than he expects from it in return.

He joined the ski patrol community in 1985 at Sugarbush and has been a member of the Sunapee patrol since 1987. His accomplishments include: National Ski Patrol’s senior level (1989) and certified patroller (1998), he is an NSP ski and toboggan trainer-evaluator, an avalanche instructor and a mountain travel and rescue instructor.

At Sunapee he is currently a patrol trainer in skiing, toboggan handling, and low angle rescue and extrication. He gives generously of his time to patrollers regardless of affiliation and has become widely appreciated for his special skill in encouraging growth in patroller competencies. He is highly sought after as a personal patrol trainer for those preparing for senior or certified exams, and he has many letters of gratitude from candidates who applaud his efforts as being the key to their success.

Jim "Sparky" Webb examining at one of the PSPA Certified Exams.

Jimmy became PSPA certified in 1996. He is a familiar face at all PSPA events. You can count on seeing him at the at the annual PSPA Certified Test, examining, no matter what the weather conditions and you will also see him at Spring Fling, gladly chipping in to help out flipping some burgers.

In 2001 he was awarded the NSP Green Merit Star for his heroic effort to aid a victim of a fatal automobile accident, an effort which unfortunately resulted in a severe injury to him as well. In connection with this same incident he was also selected as a recipient of the national Carnegie Award for Heroism in 2001.
PSPA thanks you Jimmy, for your many contributions and your commitment to ski patrolling. Your efforts have been invaluable to both PSPA and NSP and skiers everywhere.

Please submit a written nomination using the information below as a guidelines:

• Name and address of nominee
• Reason(s) for nomination
• Biographical sketch of individual to include patrolling experience, certifications, etc.
• Who we should contact in case we need more information (name, address, phone)

All nominations should be mailed to:

Dan Healey