Each year, a hardy band of volunteers works overtime to make the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race lift off.

They’ve done that for more than three decades.

As part of their weekend events, they get together to honor one of their own for outstanding work by presenting the volunteer with the Spirit of Steckler Award.

The award is deeply meaningful for those who knew its namesake.

The award is named for the late Natchez pathologist Dr. David Steckler, who was instrumental in creating the balloon race and put much effort into making it grow and prosper before his death in 2000.

This year’s award winner, Scott Adams, embodies the volunteer spirit Steckler possessed and inspired in others.

Adams has volunteered with the balloon race for nearly a decade and like countless other volunteers, has put his heart and soul into the event.

We thank Adams for his work and congratulate him for the recognition. Both are worthy of distinction.

Further, as this year’s balloon race draws to a close today, we thank all who make it go off each year, from volunteers to paying sponsors, the balloon race is a uniquely Natchez race and one that has grown far beyond what organizers likely initially conceived.

Each year, the race gets bigger and better, and that’s exactly how we imagine Dr. Steckler envisioned it.