The Sheriff Posse´s Top Hand Award is given each year to an individual who has given above and beyond the ordinary to our community, the Posse and the Round-Up.
Past recipients are: Harvey McGee - 1997; Dick Nutting - 1998; Irving Symons - 1999; Carlo DeFerrari - 2000; Chris Bateman - 2001; H. Randolph Holder - 2002.
Greg Applegate, the 2003 Top Hand honoree, is an extremely deserving recipient. He is the Administrator of the City of Sonora; and as administrator he has continually helped and supported the Posse, the Round-Up and his community.
Greg-- with the support of the entire City Council of Sonora, Chief of Police Duane Ellis, Police Lieutenant Pat Tenegato, Public Works Director Ed Wylie, Treasurer Pat Perry, Special Programs Director Rochelle Kellogg and others on the City´s staff anticipate the Round-Up year in and year out and organize to help the Posse in a giant way to get this largest and finest community event off the ground.
Specifically, Greg always chooses the right time to place on the agenda the city resolution to permit the Round-Up Parade to go down Washington Street on the Saturday of Mother´s Day Weekend. He encourages the resolution´s passage by the City Council. CalTrans is also encouraged to permit the parade on Washington Street (Hwy. 49) by the city. Our Round-Up banner over Washington Street always gets its time slotted in by the city staff. Greg and the City stepped up to help the Posse obtain insurance for the Round-Up when its acquisition was difficult. The Public Works staff helps the Posse and provides the equipment to hand the colorful Round-Up flags on the light poles each year. The Police Department alerts shopkeepers and then "looks the other way" when "Coyote Sam" does his shoot-out and downtown robbery of the "mystery item" that might prevent the Round-Up from taking place. The Police Department then takes on the huge job of directing and coordinating traffic during the parade. But it doesn´t stop there. No matter what I ask Greg or the City to do, always in a sincere spirit of cooperation it´s "Let´s see what we can do to help!" Now that is a testimonial of city government working with its citizens!
Greg is supported and encouraged by his wife and high school sweetheart, Debbie. The two have been married 24 years and have two children: Caleb, 21, and Cassie, 18. Greg is a man who actively supports and works with his family. He is an outdoorsman, a horesman, a runner and actively works with his church.
Greg was born and raised in Sacramento with five siblings by his parents Bill and Betty Applegate. Sadly, Betty passed away 17 years ago with cancer. In high school he was active in football, baseball, track and basketball. He was MVP of varsity basketball all four years of high school. Greg graduated from Sacramento State University with a Bachelor´s Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration. Later he attended and graduated from Golden Gate Universtiy with a Master´s Degree in Public Administration. Greg is active in the Government Affairs Council of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce.
Greg leads the City of Sonora through its day-to-day administration, through its political challenges and its many events in a sterling manner. We, the Posse, are proud to work with Greg and we are glad he came to the City of Sonora in 1990 and stayed.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Posse sincerely thanks Greg from the heart for all he has done to support the Posse, the Mother Lode Round-Up, to preserve our rich Western tradition and for his contribution to our community over the years. | 
