Awards and Honors
Irishman of the Year
The Friendly Sons of St Patrick’s Irishman of the Year is selected by the past three recipients and is given at the annual Membership Luncheon. Recipients are recognized with an engraved plaque, a sash and medal for their service to, and/or participation in the Irish community, over the previous year or the recent past. Past honorees:
1964 – Bishop Charles Buddy
1965 – Hon. William P. Mahedy
1966 – Jack Murphy
1967 – Joseph C. O’Connor
1968 – John Quimby
1969 – Thomas A. Whelan
1970 – Vincent A. Whelan
1971 – Joseph A. Kilgarif
1972 – John S. Lyons
1973 – Rev. J. Walsh Murray
1974 – Dr. Matthew E. Gleason
1975 – Hon. J. Robert O’Connor
1976 – Hon. Edward T. Butler
1977 – David S. Casey
1978 – J. Stacey Sullivan, Jr.
1979 – Max S. Osslo
1980 – John F. Duffy
1981 – John T. Holt
1982 – Michael I. Neil
1983 – Vincent J. Lynch
1984 – Robert W. Sexton
1985 – William K. Buckley
1986 – Thomas P. Mulcahy
1987 – Michael J. Reidy
1988 – Daniel Broderick III
1989 – Charles S. Fox
1990 – Col. Jack Kelly
1991 – Lawrence A. Cronin
1992 – Leo Sullivan
1993 – Frank O’Dwyer
1994 – Dan Mulvihill
1995 – John T. Lynch
1996 – William Lynch
1997 – J. Terence O’Malley
1998 – Edward McCarthy
1999 – Vincent Bartolotta
2000 – Hon. Gerald J. Lewis
2001 – John M. Kaheny
2002 – Robert MacNamara
2003 – Robert Sexton
2004 – Robert Mulrooney
2005 – Robert Harrison
2006 – Richard J. Lighthall
2007 – 1st Sgt Mark O’Loughlin
2008 – Michael C. McCarthy
2009 – Frank C. Sexton
2010 – Edward T. Forbes, Jr.
2011 – Scott Dodge
2012 – Michael “Doc” LaMar
2013 – Marty Walsh
2014 – Skip Giesting
2015 – Frank Gallagher
2016 – Neil O’Connell
2017 – Hugh “Chip” Dykes
2018 – Brian Brady
2019 – Stephen Aherne
2020 – Patrick O’Toole
2021 – Trevor Wessman Lavelle
2022 – Capt. Kevin Sweeney
2022 – Larry Baughman
(appreciation only)
2023 – James Burke
2024 – Mark Wheelan
2025 – William Kennedy
2025 Honoree
William Kennedy
Blackthorn Award Recipients
The Friendly Sons of St Patrick’s Blackthorn Award Recipient is selected by the three immediate Past Presidents and is awarded at the annual Black Tie Dinner event with a Blackthorn walking cane and engraved glass award. It is an honorary title bestowed on a member of the San Diego Community for either lifetime achievement, or having done something extraordinary in the recent past. Award winners:
2002 – Danny Noonan
2003 – Pat A. Conners
2004 – John Lynch
2005 – Jay Rains
2006 – Ron Blair
2007 – Sgt. Major Neil O’Connell
2008 – Frank “Ned” Gallagher
2009 – Patrick Midgley-Biggs
2010 – Capt. Kenneth J. Norton
2011 – Tony Cummins
2012 – Dr. Matthew E. Gleason
2013 – James Brennan
2014 – Mike Malone
2015 – Stephen Aherne
2016 – Thomas Patrick Mulcahy
2017 – Lou Scanlon
2018 – Bill “Willy” Driscoll
2019 – Mike Neil
2020 – Bob Mulrooney
2021 – Not awarded due to Covid
2022 – Tony Mande
2023 – Mike McGrory
2024 – Mike Pidgeon
2025 – Scott Dodge
2025 Recipient
Scott Dodge
Smilin’ Irishman
The Smilin’ Irishman Contest is the largest fundraiser in San Diego for the annual St. Patty’s Day Parade. Vying for the title each year are members from the county’s most prominent Irish and affiliated organizations, including the Friendly Sons, SD Firefighters Emerald Society, SD Law Enforcement Emerald Society, and the Irish Congress of Southern California among others. Recent winners:
2017 – Mark Kelley, SDLEES
2018 – Brian Brady, FSOSP
2019 – Christian Curry, FSOSP
2020 – Sean Walsh, ICSC
2021 – Not awarded due to Covid
2022 – Adam Powel, FSOSP
2023 – David Scott, FSOSP
2024 – Mark Hudson, FSOSP
2025 – Chris Hodgetts, FSOSP
