NATCHEZ &045;&045; Dr. David Steckler is described by those on the Balloon Race Committee as someone that gave tirelessly to his community.

And on Friday, the committee honored not one, but two others who have devoted years of effort to the event &045;&045; husband-and-wife team Ed and Laura Godfrey, who won this year’s Spirit of Steckler Award.

For the past four years, the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race has honored Steckler by giving the Spirit of Steckler Award to someone that has volunteered unselfishly to the event and community.

Steckler was an original sponsor of the weekend and volunteered for the event.

&uot;He was just the most giving man,&uot; said Debbie Guido, pilot chairperson. &uot;It’s in the spirit of his generosity and his commitment to the event.&uot;

This year, the Balloon Race Committee decided to give the award Friday night instead of waiting until the Sunday morning awards so the recipient could be honored throughout the event.

&uot;We felt it was important to announce at this crowd,&uot; said Peter Burns, balloon glow chairman and member of the Steckler committee. &uot;It needs to be known throughout the community.&uot;

Ed and Laura Godfrey were honored Friday night with the award for their volunteer efforts with the balloon race. Both have served more than 10 years a piece for the event.

Laura is executive director of the race and works year round &045;&045; as does Ed, the site chairman who gets the Rosalie site ready and equipped and then, at the end, back to normal.

&uot;Ed and I do work on this year ’round,&uot; a shocked Laura told the crowd.

Being &uot;in charge,&uot; she knew something was going differently than planned when the award was announced Friday night instead of Sunday.

But little did she know that she and her husband would be this year’s recipients.

&uot;What a shock,&uot; Laura Godfrey told people that came to congratulate her. &uot;I’m just thrilled, honored because everybody works so hard.

&uot;I can’t think of one person on our committee that doesn’t deserve this award,&uot; she said.

&uot;I’m particularly honored because I’ve just been in such awe and admiration of what David Steckler did for this community.&uot;

Ed Godfrey was no less honored to receive the award that so many hold in such high esteem because of the man it honors.

&uot;The entire committee could not come close to the volunteerism of David Steckler,&uot; Ed Godfrey said after receiving the award.