Brothers and longtime participants Alan, James and Matt Evans have been named together the 2025 Ron Daws Ambassadors of the Year, it was announced today by Grandma’s Marathon.
James was the first of the brothers to run the marathon, and he just missed out on doing them all – he started his streak in 1978 and is shooting to complete No. 48 this June. Unofficially, he thinks he may have been the first Grandma’s Restaurant employee to compete in its namesake marathon.
“I signed up for that first one the night before the race, paid my $3.00 to enter,” James recalls. “I got done with my shift at 1:00 a.m., finished in 4:05, and then biked home. There’s a lot more to it today than there was back then.”
Alan was the next of the brothers to catch the marathon bug, running Grandma’s for the first time in 1981, and then Matt followed a few years later. It was then that their mother bought the trio a lifetime membership to Grandma’s Marathon.
“She knew that if the race could stay afloat, it would be an incentive for each of us to come home every year,” Matt said. “I think she is the one that allowed us to continue to run the marathon and to let everyone know how amazing this race is for all types of runners.”
All three brothers are now members of the Grandma’s Marathon 1,000-Miler Club, each having completed 39 or more races in Duluth, and it was while receiving that award that the magnitude of the race finally hit.
“As the years went on, I became more aware of just how many volunteers it takes to do Grandma’s every year,” Alan said. “It is a very impressive army of dedicated people, and it turns out the three of us just become natural advocates for the best and our favorite marathon in the country.”
The award is named after Ron Daws, who was a 1968 Olympian and instrumental to the development of road racing in Minnesota. It’s presented each year to an individual or group who has been a leader in the development and growth of long-distance running and who has shared a commitment toward Grandma’s Marathon and the City of Duluth.
The Evans brothers will officially be presented with their award on Friday, June 20 at the 2025 Grandma’s Marathon Awards Brunch at The Garden Event Center in Duluth.
RON DAWS AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS
2024 – Bob Hartl
2023 – Rafael Botello Jimenez
2022 – Katie McGee
2020-21 – n/a
2019 – Dan Conway
2018 – Patricia Goodwin
2017 – Austin Jarrow Sports
2016 – Brian Larsen
2015 – Peter Graves, Michael Pinocci
2014 – Joanie Holst
2013 – Huck Andresen
2012 – Jon Anderson
2011 – Gloria Jansen
2010 – Martha Firling
2009 – Dr. James Kirkham
2008 – Carolyn Mather
2007 – Doris Windsand-Dausman
2006 – Dan ‘Digger’ Carlson
2005 – Ed Hermel
2004 – Kelly Keeler
2003 – Bill Andberg
2002 – Terry Lundberg
2001 – Richard Braun
2000 – Rob Link
1999 – John Goldfine
1998 – Kerry Rodd
1997 – Doug Kurtis
1996 – Garry Bjorklund
1995 – Dick Beardsley
1994 – Dorothy Spencer
1993 – Alex Ratelle
