Presented to individuals who have served at least 25 years in the athletics communications profession (as of July 2025) who are retiring or leaving the profession. Years of service vetted by the Special Awards Committee. Members may self-nominate for this award.

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2025
Rich Bertolucci — UCLA (posthumous honor)
Justin Doherty — Wisconsin (retired)
Steve East — University of Central Arkansas Associate AD for Media Relations
Claude Felton — Georgia (retired)
Larry Happel — Central College Athletics Senior Editor
John Heisler — UCF (retired) 
John Kean — Missouri S&T (retired) 
Barb Kowal — College Sports Communicators Director of Operations and Professional Development
Joni Lehmann — Big 12 Conference (retired)
Steve Levy — UMBC Assistant AD, Communications
Rick Meyers — Northern Kentucky University, Great Lakes Valley Conference
Donny Nadeau — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (retired)
Rick Nixon — NCAA
John Painter — Maryville College (Tenn.) Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
John Paquette — BIG EAST Conference Senior Associate Commissioner, Sports Media Relations
Shelly Poe — Auburn University Associate AD, Communications-Football
Sean Straziscar — NCAA Associate Director
Dick Quinn — Williams College Sports Information Director
Larry White — Alabama (retired)

2024
Joe Browning – UNC Wilmington (retired)
Larry Dougherty – Temple University (retired)
Bill Jones - Skidmore College (retired)
Dick Lipe – Bentley University (retired)                     
Gene McGivern – University of St. Thomas (retired)      
Diane Nordstrom – University of Wisconsin (retired)
Dave Saba – Duquesne University (retired)
Tom Schott – Purdue University (retired)

2023
David Alexander – College of St. Rose, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications (left profession)
Paul Allan – Minnesota State University, Senior Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations (retired) 
Herb Benenson – University of California, Berkeley, Associate Athletic Director, Communications (retired)
Dave Blanchard – Luther College, Sports Information Director (retired)
Kent Brown – University of Illinois, Associate Director of Athletics, Media Relations
Geoffrey Hassard – SUNY-Oneonta, Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director (retired)
Samuel Jefferson, Jr. – Jackson State University, Sports Information Director (retired)
Brian Laubscher – Washington and Lee University, Director of Internal Communications
John A. Martin – Colorado State University, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications and Brand Enhancement 
Eric McDowell – The Eric Idea Agency, President
Brad Nadeau – Middlebury College, Director of Athletic Communications (retired)
Dennis O'Donnell – University of Rochester, Athletic Communications emeritus (retired)
Layne Pitt – University of Wisconsin-Stout, Sports Information Director (retired)
Bill Powers – Hawai'i Pacific University, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communication (retired)
Dave Reed – Colorado College, Athletic Communications Associate Director (retired)
Lenny Reich – University of Mount Union (posthumously)
Steve Roe – University of Iowa, Associate Athletics Director, Athletic Communications
Mike Scala – Montclair State University (posthumously)
Joe Seil – Nazareth College, Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director (retired)
Steve Shutt – Wake Forest University, Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications (retired)
Roots Woodruff – University of Alabama, Associate Athletics Communications Director (retired)

2022
Bill Bennett – UCLA, Special Events/Projects Director (retired)
Mark Brand- Arizona State University, Senior Associate Atnletic DIrector/Media Relations (retired)
Russ Blunck – University of Hawaii at Hilo, Sports Information Director (retired)
Scott Cummings – McKendree University (Posthumous)
Marc Dellins – UCLA, Director of Executive Relations (retired)
Tom Duddleston – University of Arizona, Sports Information Director (retired)
Lawrence Fan – San José State University (Posthumous)
Steve Fenk – Oregon State University, Associate Athletic Director (Football), Athletic Communications\
Rosa Gatti - ESPN (retired)
Mike Green – Iowa State University, Assistant AD/Communications
Lonza Hardy, Jr. – MEAC, Media Relations & Research Consultant (retired)
Dave Hirsch – former PAC-12, Vice President, Communications
Kenny Klein – University of Louisville, Senior Associate AD
Tom Kroeschell – Iowa State University, Director of Programming (retired)
Steve Malchow – Iowa State University, Senior Associate AD/Communications (retired)
Tim Tessalone – University of Southern California, Consultant (retired)
Kennan Timm – University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Sports Information Director
Doug Vance – CoSIDA Executive Director
Dave Williford – University of Oregon, Executive Assistant Athletic Director

2021
Norma Bertoch – BYU
Debbie Copp – Oklahoma
B.L. Elfring – Southern Maine
Gregory Goings – Bowie State
Jerry Hanson – Clarke
Tom Nelson – St. Cloud State
Kevin Ruple – Baldwin-Wallace
Jim Thies – Wisconsin-River Falls

2020
Blair Cash – Multnomah University
Debbie Darrah – Texas A&M University
Doug Dull – American University
Joe Hernandez – Ball State University
Stew Salowitz – Illinois Wesleyan University
Jeff Schwartz - North Dakota State University
Jim Sheehan – Hofstra University
Jim Vruggink – Purdue University
Matt Zircher - University of Northwestern Ohio (posthumous)

2019
Liz Abel – University of Utah
Glenn Alford – Idaho State University
Tim Bourret – Clemson University
Rick Brewer – University of North Carolina
Bob Noss – Wright State University
Rob Schabert – Tennessee Tech University
Steve Schwepker – Point University
Steve Ulrich – Centennial Conference

2018
Mike Finn – Atlantic Coast Conference
Mike Kirk – University of Central Oklahoma
Jack Neumann – University of Calgary
Scott Selheimer – University of Delaware
Bob Ziadie – King's College
Ralph Zobell – BYU

2017
Max Corbet – Boise State University
Bud Focht – Rider University
Jack Frost – Winthrop University
Edward Hill, Jr. – Howard University
Steve McCloskey – Mansfield University
Tom McGuire – Bloomsburg University
Roy Pickerill – Kentucky Wesleyan University

2016
Julie Bennett – Baylor University
Howie Davis – University of Massachusetts and Springfield College
Tamara Flarup – Wisconsin
Bob Guptill – Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Rich Herman – Clarion University
Debby Jennings – University of Tennessee
Wally Johnson – St. Lawrence University
Bill Little – University of Texas
Paul Madison – Western Washington University
Kevin Southard – University of Scranton
Ed Syguda – Otterbein University
Debbie Harmison White – Old Dominion

2015
Anne Abicht – St. Cloud State
Mike Gore – UNC Asheville
Dave Guffey – Montana
Carol Hudson – Old Dominion
Brad Larsen – Weber State
Steve Marovich – Carthage
Jim McGrath – Butler
Dan O'Connell – Towson
Oliver Pierce – Gonzaga
Mady Salvani – Army
Dave Smith – Virginia Tech
John Stallings – Rutgers-Newark
Marty Valdez – Cal State East Bay
Bob Vazquez – Cal State Northridge

2014
Tom Fick – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Rick Leddy – Southern Connecticut State University/National Association of Basketball Coaches
Bruce Madej – University of Michigan
Tom Renner – Hope College/Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

2013
Ken Cerino – Western New England University
Carole Grills – Smith College
Bill Hamilton – South Carolina State University
Joe Mitch – Missouri Valley Conference
Jim Streeter – Eastern Michigan University

2012
Bob Condron – United State Olympic Committee (USOC)
Wallace Dooley, Jr. – Tennessee State University
Bud Ford – University of Tennessee
Phil Haddy – University of Iowa
Mike Mahon – Drake University
Peter Schlehr – Towson University
Bill Turnage – Florida Southern

2011
Mike Moran – United States Olympic Committee
A. John Pearson – Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Walt Riddle – Saint Leo

2010
Wayne Block – Christopher Newport
Paul Carson – University of Toronto
Rod Commons – Washington State
Rick Covington – Blue-Gray Football Classic/TCU
Langston Rogers – Ole Miss
Bill Steinman – Columbia University
Woody Wilk – Fresno City College

2009
Gary Anderson – Nebraska-Omaha
Bob Cornell – Colgate
Ron Hines – Southeast Missouri State
Larry Scott – Minnesota State-Moorhead

2008
Nancy Justice – Northern Iowa
Tim Petermann – Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Mark Stillwell – Missouri State

2007
George Ellis – North Dakota State
Stan Green – Oklahoma Christian
Mike Korcek – Northern Illinois
Ron Lenz – South Dakota State

2006
Ed Carpenter – Boston University
Tom Lamonica – Illinois State
Ron Lenz – South Dakota State
Karl Park – Eastern Kentucky
Larry Smith – Arkansas Tech

2005
John Alosi – Shippensburg