The awards listed below (Mayberry Friendship, Jim Schwenke, You’re the Cat’s, Spirit of Mayberry, & Leaders of The Pack) have been presented to individuals & groups over the years to show appreciation of those listed and their efforts to keep Mayberry alive in the hearts and minds of fans. The honorees were, in general, nominated and winners selected by a team of Mayberry fans chosen by TAGSRWC headquarters. Congratulations to the award recipients and to all those who’s names we don’t know but have been nominated over the years. We, the fans, will continue to watch re-runs and do our best to keep Mayberry alive.

Mayberry Friendship Award

The Mayberry Friendship Award is presented by TAGSRWC in recognition and appreciation for outstanding dedication to the fans of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’.”

Jim Schwenke Memorial Award

The annual Jim Schwenke Memorial Award honored the memory of one of TAGSRWC’s all-time most devoted members, Jim Schwenke, the founder of Houston’s Mayberry Texans chapter.  Jim passed away on September 13, 2002. Beginning in 2003, the award was given each year to a TAGSRWC member who not only shows a love for “The Andy Griffith Show,” but also, like Jim Schwenke, shares that devotion, friendship, and Mayberry spirit with others in especially noteworthy ways. Twenty Schwenke’s were presented with the last in 2022.

“Jim Schwenke was one of the most kind and friendly people I ever met. This award is one that means a lot to me because the only time I ever met Jim Schwenke was at Mayberry Days in 1993. He and I wrote and phoned one another for eight years and to paraphrase our favorite deputy, ‘Mayberry ain’t never had a better friend than Jim Schwenke.’ This award is not about the person receiving it; it’s about keeping the Mayberry spirit alive and well. Jim, we shall meet but we shall miss you and we will always have a smile on our face when we think of you.”
–Allan Newsome

You’re the Cat’s

 The “You’re the Cat’s” Award recognizes significant contributions to Mayberry Days and was created to honor Betty Lynn. The award, sponsored by Terry and Ron Quinsey of “We’re the Cat’s” chapter (Fort Erie, Ont.), was conceived as a way to salute special people, whether they are performing or working behind the scenes, at Mayberry Days.

Tanya Jones	2014
David Browning	2015
Alma Venable	2016
Ken White	2017
Allan Newsome	2018
Neal Brower	2019
The Creatsters	2020
Kenneth Junkin	2021
Jeff Koontz	2022

The Spirit of Mayberry

Presented by “The Mayberry Times” newsletter published by the Mayberry’s Finest..No Interlopers Chapter (Avon, Ind.) of TAGSRWC in the mid-1990’s. The award was to honor those who work to keep things related to TAGSRWC going and are selfless in doing the things they do.

Brad & Christine Born	1994
Jim Clark	1995
Emmett Forrest	1996
Allan Newsome	1997
Kenneth Junkin	1998

The Leaders of The Pack

A special award from fans at TAGSRWC’s Annual Meeting during Mayberry Days^®. The one-time award didn’t officially have a name when it was presented, but it salutes Allan and Jan Newsome for their years of dedication (in the past and no doubt the future) as Leaders of the Pack. So we’ll just go ahead and call the award The Leaders of the Pack Award.

Jan & Allan Newsome

2021

Please forgive that all the images of awards feature the Newsome name. Those were the easiest for me to get photos. — Allan Newsome