LIFETIME MEMBERS FOR SERVICE
Bill Krohn, honored summer of 1992. Penn Relays 5000 meter champion, elite master-level runner, teacher
Bill ran at the highest level at Norwich Free Academy and Manhattan College. His PRs for the mile is 4:01 and the 5k is 13:25. Bill has achieved racing internationally in all age divisions. Bill lives in Stockholm, Sweden with his wife and two children. Bill donated his 1992 second place $100 Rose Arts Race award to the Club.
Tim Smith, honored November 10, 2004. Charter Member, officer, volunteer
Tim served as president during the Mohegan Striders’ first two years, 1972 and 1973, and also as treasurer from 1975 through 1984. Tim has yet to figure out his long-lived attraction to the exercise of running and at this point in time the answers seem unimportant. His one wish is that others may experience some of the many thrills, joys and friendships that running has showered upon him.
Terrie Smith, honored May 10, 2016. Volunteer, member for forty years, first female honorary member
Terrie has been helping out at races and fun runs for over forty years. Many people rely on her supply of bandaids, pins, sewing needles and thread, sunscreen, bottle openers, baby wipes, etc. often available in the car. She has overseen many car keys, warmups, wallets, strollers, babies, etc. during races. After seven male honoraries she becomes first woman; as a Strider she has volunteered at many levels of the running arena. She enjoys the opportunity to meet new people and is grateful for the many good friends she’s interacted with throughout the running circle.
Wayne and Leslie Jolley, August 21, 2016
It is with great pleasure and honor that we recognize the newest members to the Honorary Member Club, Wayne and Leslie Jolley. The Jolleys have done so many things for the Striders over the years, it is overwhelming to think of all the contributions, donations, and running accomplishments.
They have been our Team sponsor for over 25 years to date and are still our primary sponsor moving forward. Together they ran our annual Grand Prix Series for over 17 years and were still involved as advisers after others have carried on the tradition. Collectively, they have donated countless material things to the Striders over the years, not asking for any reimbursement whatsoever.
Wayne been a member of our men’s USATF team for as long as I can remember, winning or placing in various age groups through the years, helping us to continue to be one of the best racing team in the state. He also deserves the honorable mention as “Strider Chef” for year after year at our annual picnics, serving food that makes you run faster!
Leslie is a past membership secretary. She held that position for 12 years. She has also run in USATF races for our women’s team adding valuable points to the final standings. She has worked more than her fair share of races and events in a volunteer capacity which is vital. Without volunteers, there are no races or events. In addition she and her family members make cakes and other special dessert creations for Strider events.
In closing, the Jolleys fit the description of deserving Striders just as the previous inductees. We are proud to call them Honorary Members.
Tim and Kris-Anne Kane, honored November 8, 2018. – Club officers, racing team members, race directors.Tim served as Club President for fourteen years, 1995 – 2008. Not to be out done, Kris-Anne, served as Secretary for fourteen years in three different groups of years, beginning in 1990 as Kris-Anne Pardo and ending in 2009 as Kris-Anne Kane. Both have contributed mightily to the storied results of the Strider racing teams with Kris-Anne continuing to support that effort today. The Kanes have directed the Liz Harris Cannonball Mile for 25 years and continue to make it one of the premier summer family road races in the area. Tim, through his employer, Pride’s Corner Farms, has been beyond generous with donations of shrub prizes for many local races throughout the region as well as the Strider banquet to benefit The Delaney Dash.
Pete Volkmar and Karen Short, honored October 12, 2025
Pete joined the Striders in “1984 or 85…I don’t know” while Karen, possessing an equally precise memory as her hubby, believes she became a member “in or around 1987.”
Pete has been Membership Secretary from 2009-present. He replaced the labor-intensive annual mailing of membership cards with the current electronic distribution. (How many Striders know their Strider Member Number?).
Shortly after becoming a Strider and proudly sporting the hideously ugly brown Strider uniforms, Pete led the charge to the (Sea of Red) uniform change. The original red uniforms came from Olympic Sporting goods on Bank St. in New London. Side bar – While standing at the starting line of the Berkley to Moraga Half Marathon, wearing his brown Strider singlet, Pete was approached by a runner inquiring if he knew Tim Smith. Another Side bar – Walt Stack ran that race in his trademark white sneakers.
Around the same time as he became a Strider, Pete (along with fellow Strider Gianni Ficarra) started measuring road race courses for USATF (Then TAC) certification under the company name Guido Brothers Escort Service. Assisting with measurement of his first course (Sneekers Run) was Karen Short, not yet ShorTakes author or wife. Some 500 courses later, she is still assisting.
Measuring the Sneekers Run course was a prelude to 17-years of directing the Sneekers Run, 3-yrs of directing the Rose Arts Road Race, 3-yrs of the Connecticut Corporate Challenge, 25-yrs of the EBAC Fall Challenge and 20-yrs of the Delaney Dash.
Not really Strider associated, but Pete was also partner-owner of SNERRO for about 35-yr.
Karen has hardcopy evidence of what she believes was her first ShorTakes column, dated February 1988. ShorTakes continued for decades, entertaining and/or annoying club members as a part of the quarterly Strider Newsletter and then as a yearly Race Roundup/Debrief for the Delaney Dash. In addition to her hobby as a club columnist, Karen became Editor of the Strider Newsletter around October 1988 and, in time, transitioned the missive from something handwritten and copied via mimeograph to a typed, stapled, and bulk-mailed document generated on a computer. She doesn’t know when her reign as Newsletter Editor ended (10 years perhaps? 11?). Nor does she recall the exact years she served as the Membership Secretary but believes it was around 1997 to 2000.
In 2000, when club member Sean Delaney passed away, Pete and Karen took on race director duties of the Strider-sponsored Delaney Dash, organizing the race for 20 years and awarding over $120k in scholarships in Sean’s memory. To offset the Strider sponsorship monies, Karen, along with Pete and The Kanes, created a raffle at the yearly Strider Banquet. The raffle has continued to be an integral part of the festivities with club members generously bringing prizes and purchasing tickets. All proceeds from the raffle are returned to the club. Win-Win. Karen and Pete are members of the Striders at Sneekers Race Committee – taking meeting minutes, creating the prizes, designing the shirts, organizing the volunteers, measuring the course and contributing where needed to ensure a successful race for the runners and the sponsors. On the social media front, Karen and Pete are the Facebook Admins for both the public and private Strider pages, often creating and adding content to keep the club informed and highlight club activities.
DECEASED HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE MOHEGAN STRIDERS
John DeGange, honored January 19, 1973. Sports Writer
John DeGange, former sports writer for the New London Day, was recognized as an honorary life member of the Club. John’s interested presence at many of the local races has earned him this honor. John’s coverage of the local running scene was a catalyst in the growth of the sport through the ’70s and ’80s. John DeGange died December 23, 1997.
Harold Tantaquidgeon, honored July 14, 1974. Mohegan Indian Chief
A clear, bright Sunday morning in Uncasville was the setting for the induction of only the second honored member of the Club. Chief Harold Tantaquideon, direct descendent of Uncas, Chief of the powerful Mohegan Nation, joined retired sports writer John DeGange in this unique honor. A group of about thirty friends and Club members witnessed the ceremony conducted by Walt Thoma, John Martin, and Bob Carbray. The Chief offered a brief, interesting look into the history of the Mohegan Indian. He wryly commented that striding or “streaking” began with the indians, and cited Chief Running Bear (Bare?) as the prime example. While claiming not to be a top runner the fact remains that not once was Harold apprehended in the apple orchards in his younger days. Harold Tantaquidgeon died April 4, 1989.
Al Morrison, honored January 16, 1976. Lover of the sport
Only the third life member in the Club’s four-year history, Al joins former sportswriter John DeGange and Harold Tantaquidgeon, noted Mohegan-Pequot Indian. Unlike the prior two life-time members whose professional background had much to do with their induction, Al’s background is simply one of love for the sport and the Club, along with his enthusiastic desire to aid the cause whenever possible. Al has served as chute master, timer, placer, statistician, trainer, and coach. Hence, the Club also unanimously voted him as honorary coach of the Mohegan Strider Association. Don Pirie explained it best when he compared Al’s influence on him to that of Johnny Kelley’s. The same sentiment was expressed by Bob Dempsky. Those who really know Al can appreciate the comment offered by Wil Zinser, the proverbial “Last of the Mohegans”; “Al even waits for me at the finish”. Al Morrison died June 22, 2004.
John Martin, honored November 18, 1983. Pioneer, volunteer, philanthropist
John Martin was voted in as the fourth honorary member of our Club, joining John DeGange, Harold Tantaquidgeon, and Al Morrison. John retired (not from running) and lives part of the year in Florida. He has sold his lovely home in Uncasville but he will still be in the area. He began running in the nineteen-thirty’s and can boast of completing a full marathon at age sixty-four. He ran with the likes of Tarzan Brown and Les Pawson. He served as the Club’s first treasurer and opened his home as the Club’s initial meeting place. His donation of $100.00 started the “John P. Martin Fund”, a trust to aid Olympic hopefuls running for the Mohegan Striders. John Martin died January 1, 2012.
Joe Lonardelli, honored July 22, 1991. Coach, volunteer
Joe Lonardelli’s affiliation with the Club began in the summer of 1981 when Bob Carbray asked him to come watch and help with the Norwich Rec Run. His participation has been one of supportive service ever since. Joe assists SNERRO in many local road races. He is the right-hand man to Youth Track and X-C Director Kevin Crowley who states, “Without Joe much of what goes on would not take place.” Joe retired from the City of Norwich PublicWorks Department after thirty years of service. Joe Lonardelli died June 9, 2004.
Bob Carbray, honored November 3, 1995. Charter Member, long-term secretary, volunteer
Bob missed the Club’s first formal meeting, at which he was elected secretary, a position he would serve for seventeen consecutive years. Bob has been on the scene for many years, having served on the Rose Arts Road Race committee in its early years, and also served as president and member of the board of directors for the East Lyme Marathon, and is often on the scene assisting in some capacity with the smaller races. Bob Carbray died December 26, 2004.
Steve “crank” Hancock, honored November 8, 2018, Posthumously. Marine Corps decorated Vietnam vet, Club president, racing team member, Plaiders singing running group, cancer cure ambassador.
Steve Hancock Served two tours of Viet Nam and was the awarded two Purple Hearts. Steve was a fixture at many races as he honored our country and flag with his pre-race rendition of the National Anthem. He was always present and part of the festivities at the Chester 4 On The 4th road race where he and fellow Strider vets would run with the American and POW/MIA flags. He was also a fixture at the Manchester Road Race, again in the singing company of the Plaiders who would entertain the race spectators with their popular repertoire. Steve’s love of music led him to be a vocalist for the Mohegan Strider band, “Run for Cover.” A consistent sub three hour marathoner, he was also on many winning Strider racing teams. Steve served as the President of the Mohegan Striders for 1 term in 1994.
In May 2006 Steve, family, and friends created The Trails To A Cure trail race in Cockaponset State Forest to raise funds to combat cancer. Steve died on August 15, 2006 of pancreatic cancer leaving behind his beloved Family, Wife Brenda, Son Steve, and daughter Michelle.