Dana Lonn of The Toro Co. was named the winner of the 2012 International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association Edwin Budding Award.
The sixth annual award, which is presented by Ransomes-Jacobsen, is named for Edwin Budding, who is credited with inventing the reel mower in 1832. It is given annually to someone who has made a significant contribution to the golf course equipment industry and who is dedicated to improving the industry and their facilities.
Lonn is managing director for Toro's Center for Advanced Turf Technology. The center was created in 1998 to develop innovative solutions to customer problems and environmentally friendly technologies for customers in the professional turf markets that include golf, sports turf, and grounds and landscape maintenance. Its mission is towork with customers, academic researchers and other industry experts to develop solutions that could emerge as breakthrough products and has been an industry leader in water management, alternative fuels and labor productivity.
Lonn has been an active participant in developing an array of commercial, residential and irrigation products and personally holds 10 patents as an inventor.
He will receive the award Feb. 6 at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego.