This service award is to honor the memory of fellow Mohammed Shriner Darth Winkler who was the first Shriner ever to play in the Illinois High School Shrine Game. Darth passed away on September 2nd, 2015 in an automobile accident. He was a member of the Lewistown Lodge 104 and a member of the Mohammed Shrine. His parents Noble Coach Darren Winkler Mother Esther, Noble Dalton, and Noble Dane.
Darth was a young man with such high character on and off the field. He was so polite Yes Sir and No Sir. He excelled in the classroom and had just graduated from Beloit College where he participated in football and track. Darth was my appointed apprentice to one day be the Game Chairman of this Signature Event for the Shriners of Illinois. We developed a special bond with his efforts to help out whenever called upon.
We all miss him and his “Famous Mohawk” and “Smile” each and every day.
Past Recipients:
2016 – Wyatt Fishel ~ Arcola High School (red team)
2017 – Kyle Purdy ~ Bismark-Henning High School (red team)
2018 – Blake Wittman ~ Jersey Community High School (red team)
2019 – Cade Eddington ~ Rochester High School (blue team)
2021 – Nick Legnaioli ~ Richmond-Burton High School (red team)
2022 – Marques Covington ~ Kankakee High School (blue team)
2023 – Harrison Meyer ~ Sandburg High School (red team) and T. J. Klein ~ Tri-Valley High School (blue team)
2024 - Joe Hunt - Normal Univeristy High (red team) and Trevor Schuetz Lake Zurich High School (blue team)