National Awards

Service Awards

The Azalean article awards

The Azalea Society appreciates the many contributions each of its members have made to the society and the world of azaleas. We recognize exceptional contributions with formal awards, as listed here. These awards typically take the form of a plaque presented at our annual conventions. Each award is documented in our quarterly journal The Azalean, referenced here by volume (number): page.

The Exceptional Service Award is given by the Azalea Society of America to recognize outstanding contributions to the society and the genus Rhododendron with special emphasis on the many species and hybrids of azaleas within the genus as well as service to the horticultural community beyond azaleas. The exceptional service to the society can take many forms. Administrative and technical contributions as well as azalea research projects are critical to the growth and development of membership and offering advanced research tools about the thousands of azaleas that novices and experts can grow.

YearAwardRecipientReference
1979Statement of AppreciationEmile Deckert1(2):2
1980Vote of AppreciationFrank White2(3):5
1982Letter of AppreciationBob Stewart4(3):15
1983Expression of AppreciationJohn (Jack) Schaffer5(2):33
1986Distinguished Achievement AwardGeorge W. Harding8(3):63
1988Special AwardRobert Pryor10(3):41
1989Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Ryon Page
Charles Evans		11(3):45
1992Distinguished Achievement AwardBelinda Hobbs14(3):58
1993Distinguished Achievement Award
Distinguished Achievement Award		Fred Galle
Don Voss		15(3):53
1995Distinguished Service AwardWilliam C. Miller III17(3):52
1999Certificate of Recognition
Exceptional Service Award		Barbara Bullock
Bob and Bee Hobbs		21(2):32
21(3):56
2002Distinguished Service AwardWilliam C. Miller III24(3):54-55
2005Exceptional Service AwardBob Stelloh27(2):40
2006Distinguished Service AwardDr. John L. Creech28(4):91
2007Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Ms. Margie Jenkins
Joe Schild		29(3):68
2008Exceptional Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Robert “Buddy” Lee
Joe & Donna Coleman
Ed Collins		30(3):58
2009Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Donald Hyatt
Phil and Francis Louer
Jane Newman
Bob Stewart		31(3):60-61
2010Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Dr. John Thornton
Maarten van der Giessen		32(3):63
2011Distinguished Service AwardJohn Brown33(3):61
2013Distinguished Service AwardJim Thornton35(3):60
2015Exceptional Service Award
Exceptional Service Award
Friend of the Azalea Society		Barbara Stump
Bart Bretcher
Dr. David Creech		37(1&2):8
2016Exceptional Service Award
Exceptional Service Award		Carolyn and Paul Beck
Dan Krabill		38(2):32
2017Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Dr. Regina Bracy
Dr. Allen Owings
Dr. Larry and Mrs. Florence Brown
Peggy Cox
Jim Campbell		39(2):36-37
2018Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Janet Carson
Jim Brant
George McLellan
J Jackson and Lindy Johnson		40(2):47
40(2):47
40(3):64
40(3):64
2019Distinguished Service AwardErnest Koone, III41(2):43
2020Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Donna & Ronnie Palmer
Robert Thau		42(2):38
2021Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Exceptional Service Award		Hale Booth
Barbara Stump
Aaron Cook
Pam Fitch
Rick Bauer		43(2):37
2022Distinguished Service AwardJohn Torbert44(2):41
2023Distinguished Service Award
Exceptional Service Award		David & Leslie Nanney
Maarten van der Giessen		45(3):58
2024Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Denise Richard Lanclos
Patrick Thompson		46(3):56
2025Exceptional Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Charlie Andrews
Michael Martin Mills
Barbara Kirkwood		47(2):47
47(2):46
2026Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award		Joseph Klimavicz
Sandra F. McDonald, Ph.D.		48(2):42

The Azalean best article awards

Service Awards

YearRecipientTitle
1990Dr. Ajit ThakurThe Enchanting Satsuki, Part 1. 11 (4): 64-68
The Enchanting Satsuki, Part 2. 12 (1): 4-7
1991Jane NewmanIn Praise of Greenwoods on the East Coast 13 (4): 64-67
1992Richard WestEasy Propagation of Azaleas at Home 14 (4): 88
1993Bob StellohGeorge Harding Azalea Garden—A Progress Report 14 (4): 87
1994Steve BrainerdDesigning with Azaleas 16 (4): 73-74
1995Richard T. West and
William C. Miller III		The Ten Oaks Azaleas and the Glenn Dale Distribution Project 17 (3): 53-56
1996James O. ThorntonAn Azaleaphile Salute — Fred Galle 18 (2): 24-26
1997Dr. Kathleen A. KronIdentifying the Native Azaleas – Part II 19 (3): 48-50
1997Alice HollandHow It All Began 35 (1): 10-11, 20
1998August KehrIn Memory — Fred Charles Galle 20 (4): 79-80
1999Donald H. VossThe Growth Cycle of Evergreen Azaleas 21 (4): 70
1999Tom Dodd IIIBreeding and Propagating Native Azaleas 21 (3): 46
2000Joe SchildFire on the Mountain 22 (2): 30-32
2001Don HyattBest of the Best: In Search of Native Azaleas 23 (3): 52-57
2001Roger DuvallA Family Reunion – Joint ARS/ASA 2002 Convention Preview 23 (4): 76-77
2002Marian KlenkAlong the Garden Path: Memories of My Grandfather, Frederic Paddock Lee, and His Azalea Garden 24 (2): 34-38
2003Robert (Buddy) LeeAzaleaphile Margie Jenkins 25 (4): 84-85, 97
2004William C. Miller IIIBen Morrison and His Azaleas 26 (3): 54-57
2007Bill MillerThe Search for the Real George Lindley Taber and the Orchid Azalea.   29 (4): 87-92
2008Carolyn Beck
Aaron Cook		The Garden and Hybridizing Program of Bob Stewart. 30 (4): 89-92
Why Timing Is Important in Rooting Native Azaleas—Part I. 30 (1): 15-16
2009Don HyattThe Quest for the Yellow Evergreen Azalea. 31 (3): 56-57, 64
2010Don HyattA Winter To Forget: “(Snowmageddon 2.0)”—Part I. 32 (4): 89-92
2011Don HyattEvergreen Azaleas: Sorting out the Confusion. 33 (4): 76-81
2016Carolyn BeckThe Klimavicz Hybridizing Project. 38 (1): 4-11
2018Richard BauerThe Legacy Project Update. 39 (4): 76-68
2019Charles AndrewsAmerican Azaleas.   40 (2): 40-45; Part II 40(3): 52-57
2020Barbara StumpIn Memory—Margie Louise Yates Jenkins 1921–2020. 42 (1): 11–12
2021William C. Miller IIIRose Ishbel Greely, a Pioneer in DC Landscape Architecture. 43 (4): 83–86
2022Carolyn Beck &
Dr. Ajit Thakur		The Kurume Azaleas Part 1. 44 (3): 55-63
The Kurume Azaleas Part 2. 44 (4): 81-91
2023Linda EirhartAzaleas and Rhododendrons at Winterthur 45 (4): 80-83
2024Ken GohringDedication of the Earl Sommerville Legacy Garden at the Wright Environmental Education Center 46 (3): 62-66
2025Aaron CookRemembering the Past: Our First Ten Years of ASA 47(4): 98-101