Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Public Relations
At the Commonwealth Awards, PRSA Richmond’s Virginia Public Relations Awards, PRSA Richmond recognizes extraordinary achievement by an individual working in the field of public relations. Winners of the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Relations exemplify the best in the profession. The program is open to public relations practitioners in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area.
The Thomas Jefferson Award was instituted as an annual peer award in 1998. It continues a tradition begun in 1962 by the former Old Dominion Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. In that program, however, the major award was presented to a community leader, and the public relations award was only occasionally presented.
Today, Thomas Jefferson award winners demonstrate excellence in a variety of ways, including:
- Making significant contributions to enhance the profession of public relations. This may include publishing articles in professional journals, authoring chapters in textbooks, or being an innovator in the PR profession.
- Receiving local or national recognition for significant PR achievements.
- Demonstrating a commitment to public service. This may include pro bono work or helping nonprofits with PR efforts.
- Mentoring young practitioners. Giving time and/or talent or empowering others to give their time and/or talent to help younger practitioners in the field. This may include teaching or serving as a formal or informal mentor.
- Being active in PRSA. This can include things such as regular attendance at monthly meetings, active participation on a committee, serving on the board, serving as a chapter officer, or participation on the national level.
- Pursuing continuing education related to the PR field. This can include earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a doctorate, Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), or other certification.
- Receiving other awards for professional achievement.
Every year, the recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award is announced at the Commonwealth Awards, Richmond PRSA’s Annual Virginia Public Relations Awards.
Past recipients of the award have included:
- 2011 - Pam Lepley, APR
- 2010 - Tom Morris,APR
- 2009 - A. Prescott Rowe, APR
- 2008 - Judy VanSlyke Turk, PhD., APR, Fellow PRSA
- 2007 - Mark Raper
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2006 - Lou Anne Nabhan, APR
- 2005 - Hank Amann, APR, Fellow PRSA
- 2004 - Martha W. Steger, APR, Fellow PRSA
- 2002 - D. Brickford Rider, APR
- 2001 - Eva Teig Hardy
- 2000 - G. Richard Wainwright*
- 1999 - P. Lee Starkey, APR, Fellow APR
- 1998 - David M. Clinger, APR
- 1995 - Joseph R. Slay, APR
- 1994 - William M. Dietrick, APR, Fellow PRSA*
- 1988 - Beverley R. Lawler*
- 1983 - Lea Booth
- 1981 - Joseph F. Awad, APR, Fellow PRSA*
- 1980 - Donald J. Gonzales, APR*
- 1980 - Donald B. McCammond, APR*
- 1975 - Richard A. Velz, APR*
Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service
- 1995 - Oliver W. Hill
- 1994 - James E. Ukrop
- 1993 - William W. Berry
- 1991-92 - Brenton S. Halsey
- 1989-90 - A. Linwood Holton, Jr.
- 1988 - John W. Hancock*
- 1987 - Frank Batten
- 1986 - John T. Hazel, Jr.
- 1985 - T. Justin Moore, Jr.
- 1984 - Lawrence E. Blanchard, Jr.
- 1983 - Anne Dobie Peebles 1982 - William W. Harrison
- 1981 - Carlisle Humelsine*
- 1980 - Catherine Filene Shouse*
- 1979 - Carter O. Lowance*
- 1978 - Sydney* & Frances Lewis
- 1977 - Albertis S. Harrison*
- 1976 - James Jackson Kilpatrick
- 1975 - Henry Clay Hofheimer*
- 1974 - James C. Wheat, Jr.*
- 1973 - Richard S. Reynolds, Jr.*
- 1972 - Virginius Dabney*
- 1971 - Mills E. Godwin, Jr.*
- 1970 - E. Claiborne Robins
- 1969 - Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
- 1968 - Herman H. Pevler*
- 1967 - Thomas C. Boushall*
- 1966 - Leslie Cheek*
- 1965 - David Tennant Bryan
- 1964 - Colgate W. Darden, Jr.*
- 1963 - Robert Porterfield*
- 1962 - Winthrop Rockefeller*
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