Est. 1997 · Annual Family Tradition
Shurn Family Reunion
Awards Registry
Honouring excellence, character & dedication within our family
About Our Awards
Each year at the Shurn Family Reunion, the host chapter presents a series of awards to recognise outstanding members of our family. Recipients are nominated and voted upon by the members of the host chapter — and to ensure fairness, host chapter members are not eligible to receive any award in the year they serve as hosts.
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The Fred Douglas Shurn Award
The Highest Honour in the Shurn Family
Established at the 1997 St. Louis Family Reunion, the Fred Douglas Shurn Award is the most prestigious honour our family bestows. What began as a meaningful gesture quickly became a cherished annual tradition.
This award recognises a family member who embodies:
- Lifelong dedication to supporting and sustaining the reunion
- Outstanding moral character within the family and the broader community
- Christian spirit and leadership reflected in their daily life
The award bears the name of Fred Douglas Shurn — known and loved by all as Uncle Doug. He and his wife, Lilly, made their home in Benton Harbour, Michigan, where Uncle Doug distinguished himself as a founding member of our family organisation. Though he and Lilly had no children of their own, Uncle Doug poured himself into the family with tireless devotion.
His most enduring contribution was his faithful stewardship of the early Family Reunion "Book" — the carefully kept record of finances, addresses, and family history that made our gatherings possible and ensured they would continue for generations to come. His quiet dedication laid the foundation upon which every reunion since has been built.
Each year, the reunion host chapter selects the recipient. To ensure fairness and impartiality, members of the host chapter are not eligible to receive the award — it must go to a family member from outside that chapter.
Fred Douglas Shurn Award — Hall of Honour
Our family's most distinguished recognition, awarded annually since 1997
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