Leadership is not always about being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes, it is about doing the difficult work behind the scenes to bring people together, build trust, and create lasting change.
That spirit of leadership is why Pace-O-Matic and founder Michael Pace presented the Winning Integrity Award to Butch Foshee, former president of the Georgia Amusement and Music Operators Association (GAMOA).
A longtime Georgia amusement operator, Foshee helped guide the industry through a period of major change. His leadership strengthened GAMOA, united operators, and established a new relationship between the amusement industry and state government.
When Foshee became president of GAMOA in 2007, the association had fewer than 30 members.
Georgia’s amusement operator community was fragmented, making it difficult for the industry to speak with a unified voice when working with legislators and regulators.
Foshee helped change that.
Under his leadership, GAMOA began bringing operators together around a shared vision for the industry’s future. Instead of continuing to operate in an uncertain legislative environment, Foshee encouraged conversations about embracing state regulation and creating clear standards.
He and a small group of industry leaders began laying the groundwork for a regulatory framework that would eventually lead to legislation in Georgia and serve as a catalyst for other states.
Choosing Regulation and Building Trust
For Michael Pace, Foshee’s willingness to tackle those difficult issues represents exactly what the Winning Integrity Award was created to recognize.
“Perhaps his most lasting contribution has been his work to help change the industry’s relationship with government,” said Michael Pace, founder of Pace-O-Matic. “Under his guidance, the industry in Georgia became fully regulated and considered legitimate. Butch was instrumental in adopting a strategy of advocating for regulation. That is integrity—the willingness to do the hard, unglamorous work of establishing rules, growing an organization, and building trust.”
The work wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t happen overnight. It required conversations, cooperation, and a willingness to look beyond short-term challenges.
The result was an industry better positioned to work with government, regulators, and fellow operators.
Recognizing Leadership Built on Integrity
The Winning Integrity Award recognizes individuals in the amusement industry and related fields who demonstrate honesty, fairness, and ethical leadership throughout their careers.
The award is not simply about what someone accomplishes. It recognizes how they accomplish it.
For Foshee, the recognition reflects years of work alongside fellow operators and industry leaders.
“I love this industry, the leadership of our team, and the new members,” Foshee said. “The accolades that Michael laid out, those accomplishments, there were a lot of people that are involved in that work, but we got it done. I enjoy this industry, and I thank you all.”
Foshee received the award during GAMOA’s Annual Southern Amusement & Entertainment Expo dinner.
A Growing List of Winning Integrity Award Recipients
Foshee is the sixth person to receive Pace-O-Matic’s Winning Integrity Award.
Previous recipients include Larry Hilimire of Stanton Automatics in New York; The Honorable Tom Walters, a former Wyoming legislator; Paul Goldean, president and CEO of Pace-O-Matic; amusement industry legend Marty Glazman; and Danny Frank, executive director of AMOA-NY.
While each recipient has made a different impact on the amusement industry, they share a commitment to integrity in leadership.
An Award as Unique as Its Recipients
The meaning behind the Winning Integrity Award is also reflected in the award itself.
Each recipient receives a unique piece of hand-blown glass art featuring a clear, luminous structure with intricate layers and varying colors. No two awards are exactly alike.
The design reflects the individuals it honors: distinct careers and accomplishments connected by a shared commitment to integrity.
A quote often attributed to Mark Twain captures the idea behind the award well:
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
Through his leadership of GAMOA, his work to bring operators together and his commitment to building a stronger relationship between the amusement industry and government, Butch Foshee has demonstrated the kind of leadership the Winning Integrity Award was created to celebrate.