Evans Trophy

Detroit businessman, Edward Evans, viewed motorless flight as a logical method of sustaining the interest in flight generated in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight.  He encouraged the development of the sport of soaring by offering prizes for record flights and contest winners.

Evans also financed the creation of the Evans Glider Club in 1928, which, in 1929, became the National Glider Association – the NGA.  The NGA conducted the first two National Soaring Contests in 1930 and 1931 – at Elmira.  In 1932, the NGA became the Soaring Society of America – the SSA.

Sponsored by Evans in 1930, this large “traveling trophy”, was passed on to successive National Contest winners, annually.  The Evans Trophy was awarded in perpetuity to John Robinson for winning the National Contest three years in succession (here on Harris Hill) in 1940, 1941, and 1946 (there were no national contests during WWII).