Table of Contents
Midwest Garrison Trooper Of The Year
2023 – Joe Bialek (tx41574) 41574
2022 – Greg Ladle (DZlaw) 28101
2021 – Rudy Grasha (FettSwatCop) 3620
2020 – Tim “Done” Dunne (Modal Nodes Roadie) 54750
2019 – Heather Dickinson (Faylyn) 66599
2018 – T.J. Wonogas (TacoSunday) 33431
2017 – Ted Ruler (RulerMaul) 36285
2016 – Ray Bosques (Rex Fett) 3499
2015 – Eric Werner (Blacksun) 41551
2014 – Ted Ruler (RulerMaul) 36285
2013 – Steve Gaza (Gazmosis) 4034
2012 – Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
2011 – Chip Childress (SL 9965) 9965
2010 – Steve Szyndrowski (ID3052) 3025
2009 – Patrick Higgins (PQ Higgins) 3697
Midwest Garrison Legend Award
2022: Michael T. Tate Sr. (TK-1117)
Better known to many as “Tate”, joined the 501st Midwest Garrison in the early 2000’s. He was the first African-American to don a stormtrooper costume in the Garrison and the Legion and was a driving force that helped both the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion grow. Tate could easily be described as talented, creative, funny, friendly, magnetic, and iconic. He was loved by everyone and inspired many to greatness. He always had a positive energy about him and was the model of inclusivity. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome and included. One of his greatest gifts was the ability to see more similarities than differences with people he met, and that quality alone made him a true ambassador in the fandom community. He was always willing to donate his time to a good cause and promoted fearlessness in living one’s own life. He strongly believed that every person should pursue their happiness and demonstrated it every time he trooped.
Mike passed away on December 20, 2022. His BIG smile, charismatic spirit, and legendary positive attitude will be missed, but he left us with a template of how to be kind to others and to live fearlessly. His legacy will live on through many of us.
Midwest Garrison Trooper Of The Month
2024
January: Brad Hartsock
February: Steve Mammen
March: Eugene Almazan
April: Barry Bernecke
May: Pete Siegal & Dan Bandola
June: Lizzie Lindenbaum
July: Scott Omachinski
August: Bob A. Pieroni
September: Chip Childress
October: Ryan Summers
November: Dana Severson
December: Tracey Shriner
View Past Years
2023
January: Todd Roesner
February: Michael Stoughton
March: William Collison
April: Eric Werner
May: Lizzie Lindenbaum-Gaudio
June: Kris Belardinelli
July: Robert Redden
August: Mark Berry
September: Bob A. Pieroni
October: Michael Swartz
November: Dan Bandola
December: Bob J. Pieroni
2021
January: Chris Stewart
February: Joseph Stacko
March: Monserrate Monty Garcia
April: Brian Salisbury
May: NONE
June: NONE
July: Barry W Benecke
August: Dan Quinn & Sean Crockett
September: Gemma Billings
October: Christopher Buetsch
November: Joe Bialek
December: Rudy Grasha
2020
January: Eugene Almazan & Christan Medina
February: Mike Dickinson
March: Bobby Anderson
April: NONE
May: Pat Brown & Jerry Brown
June: Len Deptula
July: Tom Rosy
August: Joe Rivera
September: NONE
October: Javier Esqueda & Darryl Sorensen
November: Joe Rivera
December: Kurt DeGroot
2019
January: NONE
February: NONE
March: Heather Dickinson
April: Ray “Rex” Bosques
May: NONE
June: Joe Stacko
July: Sandra Almazan
August: Tim “Done” Dunne
September: Joe Rivera
October: Jim Marriott
November: NONE
December: NONE
2018
January: Brian Salisbury & Craig Bruckman
February: TJ Wonogas
March: Charlotte Hartsock
April: Shannon Buestch
May: Ted Ruler
June: Tim Dunne
July: Ted Ruler
August: Marc Casey
September: Ryan Bell
October: NONE
November: Rudy Grasha
December: Sean D Crockett
2017
January: Eric Werner
February: Kevin Glass
March: Mike Mathews
April: Charlotte Harstock
May: Lydia Miller & Robert Redden
June: Tim Dunne
July: Peter Marciano
August: Michael A. Stoughton
September: Ray Bosques
October: Brian Travis
November: Joe Bialek & Heather Dickinson
December: Roland Batrouni
2016
January: Neil Auer
February: Ted Ruler
March: Eric Werner
April: Chris Buetsch
May: Eugene Almazan
June: Jeremy Wilcox
July: Brad Hartsock
August: Chris Stewart
September: Eric Werner
October: Ray Bosques
November: Ted Ruler
December: Peter Murfin
2015
January: Anthony Day
February: Ted Ruler
March: Kristen Avara
April: Eric Werner
May: Mike Mathews
June: Kathy van Beuningen
July: Ray Bosques
August: Patrick Lewis
September: Michael A. Stoughton
October: Ted Ruler
November: Kevin Glass
December: Rick Devine
2014
January: Tyler Meier
February: Darryl Sorensen
March: Neil Auer
April: Augie Webster
May: Robert Redden
June: Barry Benecke
July: Hawk Worley
August: Patrick Lewis
September: Aaron Brigman
October: Ted Ruler
November: Eric Werner
December: Eric Werner
2013
January: NONE
February: Scott Holder
March: Kevin Skiera & Tyler Meier
April: Nicole VanBrooker
May: Chad Collins
June: Lisa Schneider
July: Ted Ruler
August: Steve Gaza
September: Mark Berry
October: Kim Worley & Shannon Buetsch
November: Darcy Anne Jorgensen
December: Rick Devine
2012
January: Robert L. Hamilton (Vadersblade) 8310
February: Neil Auer (TK3446) 3446
March: Kristen Avara (SkyPanda) 7844
April: Brian Troyan (Fleetfang) 8968
May: Adriane Bean (beans) 4541
June: Jody McQuarters (nightshifter) 6443
July: Jon Weger (jweger77) 9142
August: Steve Gaza (gazmosis) 4034
September: Luke Naliborski (sirLuke) 5388
October: Steve Gaza (gazmosis) 4034
November: Carlos Mendoza (Solcar23) 5924
December: Roland Batrouni (TKRoland) 4186
2011
January: Neil Auer (TK3446) 3446
February: Tom Schaefer (TK118) 118
March: Brian Troyan (Fleetfang) 8968
April: Jody McQuarters (nightshifter) 6443
May: Thomas Turner(Crix) 4913
June: None
July: Robert L. Hamilton (Vadersblade) 8310
August: Mark Berry (Blueram) 4265
September: Aimee Jorgenson (TB101) 101
October: Mark Berry (Blueram) 4265
November: Chip Childress (SL9965) 9965
December: Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
2010
January: Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
February: Steve Szyndrowski (ID3052) 3052
March: Joe River (River) 3166
April: Brian Troyan (Fleetfang) 8968
May: Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
June: Jody McQuarters (Nightshifter) 6443
July: Tom Schaefer (TK118) 118
August: Mike Bollow (Imperial1971) 7155
September: Brian Troyan (Fleetfang) 8968
October: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
November: Mike Riemma (Remo) 1659
December: James Norman (iam8114) 8114
2009
January: NONE
February: Andrew Marsh (Jack Killian) 2079
March: Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
April: Patrick Q Higgins (PQ Higgins) 3697
May: Rob Miller (Oblagon) 7230
June: Jeremy Wilcox (BDA TK7503) 7503
July: Jerry Treiber (Grunt) 5991
August: Patrick Q Higgins (PQ Higgins) 3697
September: Kent Heath (DirtyScout) 1692
October: James Tampa (Arcturus1020) 1020
November: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
December: Walfrido R Contreras (Marvinrobot) 7242
2008
January: Cheryl Whitaker (Whinter) 3127
February: James Dejan (Targ) 3853
March: NONE
April: James Dejan (Targ) 3853
May: Geoff Pfeiffer (TK 4813) 4813
June: Stephanie Hicks (McAmazing) 9052
July: Jerry Treiber (Grunt) 5991
August: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
September: NONE
October: Joseph Flores (IronManAtArms) 1296
November: Steve Brejnak (TK465) 465
December: Dan Patterson (TK787) 787
2007
January: Steve Brejnak (TK465) 465
February: Tom Schaefer (TK118) 118
March: Rich Markle (Dad Vader) 1781
April: Ryan Day (BankyScout) 7926
May: Jay Shimko (SHIMKO) 130
June: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
July: Jerry Treiber (Grunt) 5991
August: Mike Washko (TK895) 895
September: Tom Schaefer (TK118) 118
October: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
November: David Gates (Gator Fett) 8875
December: James Dejan (Targ) 3853
2006
January: NONE
February: Chris Schwarz (Iceburgh) 9442
March: Phylis Schulte (Schoh Gochi) 1951
April: Mary Walton (Badmommy) 5202
May: Chris Brown (JasterMereel) 3829
June: Barry Benecke II (BobafrettTK523) 523
July: Tom Schaefer (TK118) 118 & Susie Leopold (lavagrrrl) 7305
August: Brent Ashcroft (Sportsanchor) 1044 & John Duffy (TK737) 737
September: John Fitzsimmons (Fitz) 6442
October: Jay Shimko (SHIMKO) 130
November: Ken Friedman (Kifs) 544
December: John Blizzard (Blizz) 8192
2005
April: Thomas Spanos (CloneEmperor) 1876
May: Donovan Larabel (TX 338) 338
June: Barry Benecke II (BobafrettTK523) 523
July: Jerome Ohnui (Crimson) 1800
August: Rich Markle (Dad Vader) 1781
September: Jason E Piekarz (TK257) 257
October: Bob Walton (Prof Chaos) 1216
November: Carolyn Brown (FrenchyMereel) 6156
December: James Tampa (Arcturus1020) 1020
501st Legion Honorary Members Inducted by the MWG
As the 501st Legion continues to reach out and touch the lives of fans, it also seeks to recognize those who have contributed their time, skills and talents to the Star Wars saga in some special way. There are also many friends of the Legion who may not have specifically worked for Lucasfilm, but who have shown tremendous support of the 501st and Star Wars fandom. Those listed on this page have been presented a custom plaque by the Midwest Garrison, commemorating their relationship with the 501st Legion.
Voice Actor: Theron Shan, Star Wars: The Old Republic
April 23, 2017
Hasbro senior principal designer and designer of the toy version of the Millennium Falcon
June 2, 2018
Senior Editor DelRey Publishing Author
April 14, 2019
June 20, 2018 (In Memoriam)
June 22, 2018
February 10, 2018
December 23, 2020
Midwest Garrison Honorary Troopers
The 501st Midwest Garrison continues to grow and make a difference in the lives of fans of all ages. The Garrison also recognizes individuals that not only have shown tremendous support to the 501st Legion and our Garrison, but also have contributed their time, skills and talents to the community and includes Star Wars in some special way. These individuals have been presented a Certificate and Garrison “Goodies”, commemorating their relationship with the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison.
December 29, 2017
2017
January 17, 2020 (In Memoriam)
December 12, 2020
Midwest Garrison In Memoriam
Honoring our fallen troopers.
- Terry Beisel (BH-3259)
- Michael T. Tate (TK-1117)
- Jim M “Targ” DeJan (TI-3853)
- John “Fitz” Fitzsimmons (DZ-6442)