The VOA recognizes certain Optometrists and individuals every year. (Click here for award descriptions.) We are proud to display these exceptional recipients...
Optometrist of the Year
- 2021 Dr. Jeffrey C. Michaels
- 2020 Dr. Walt Whitley
- 2019 Dr. Jen Weigel
- 2018 Dr. Adam P. Parker
- 2017 Dr. Robert M. Allen
- 2016 Dr. Christine W. Cook
- 2015 Dr. Gerald R. Neidigh
- 2014 Dr. Robert L. Bass
- 2013 Dr. Shannon C. Franklin
- 2012 Dr. Kurt P. Finney
- 2011 Dr. George F. Brown
- 2010 Dr. David H. Hettler
- 2009 Dr. Fred E. Goldberg
- 2008 Dr. Jeffrey C. Michaels
- 2007 Dr. A. Susan Keene
- 2006 Dr. Marc A. Hudson
- 2005 Dr. M. E. “Pat” Jackson
- 2004 Dr. Joseph E. Droter
- 2003 Dr. James E. Powers
- 2002 Dr. Carol D. Record
- 2001 Dr. Elton Brown
- 2000 Dr. Roxann L. Robinson
- 1999 Dr. Gary St. Clair
- 1998 Dr. Thomas R. Cheezum
- 1997 Dr. James Cornetta
- 1996 Dr. Benjamin J. Lambert
- 1995 Dr. Charles Harrill
- 1994 Dr. Robert Greenburg
- 1993 Dr. Gordon W. Jennings
- 1992 Dr. John P. Baumgardner
- 1991 Dr. A. Gregory Toler
- 1990 Dr.Samuel C. Smart
- 1989 Dr. Robin P. Rinearson
- 1988 Dr. Lowell H. Gilbert
- 1987 Dr. Kenneth A. Lebow
- 1986 Dr. John F. Jones
- 1985 Dr. Bernard Stier
- 1984 Dr. Stanley L. Jason
- 1983 Dr. W. Ernest Schlabach
- 1982 Dr. Samuel J. Cole
- 1981 Dr. Joel N. Zaba
- 1980 Dr. Benjamin J. Lambert
- 1979 Dr. Edward Millan
- 1978 Dr. Michael J. Obremskey
- 1977 Dr. Charles E. Johnston
- 1976 Dr. James R. Prince
- 1975 Dr. James Fowler
- 1974 Dr. John L. Howlette
- 1973 Dr. J. P. Gardner, Jr.
- 1972 Dr. P. J. McEwen
- 1971 Dr. Andrew J. Metz
- 1970 Dr. Douglas P. Wisman
- 1969 Dr. Bernard A. Morewitz
- 1968 Dr. Frederick U. Baublitz
- 1967 Dr. Howard D. Kahn
- 1966 Dr. Carl A. Kauffman
- 1965 Dr. Edward W. Gilbert
- 1964 Dr. William M. Turner
- 1963 Dr. C. L. Beauchamp
- 1962 Dr. Gordon S. Buchanan
- 1961 Dr. John L. Miller
- 1960 Dr. Robert R. Burrage
- 1959 Dr. E. B. Gatten, Jr.
- 1958 Dr. John J. Reid
- 1957 Dr. John Baumgardner
- 1956 Dr. L. Paul Quillen
- 1955 Dr. George Hall, Jr.
- 1954 Dr. H. L. Friedenberg
- 1953 Dr H. L. Friedenberg
- 1952 Dr. John R. Bell
- 1951 Dr. E. O. Hubbard
- 1950 Dr. W. R. Carper
- 1949 Dr. Frank O. Taliaferro
- 1948 Dr. S. S. Loewner
- 1947 Dr. William M. Turner, Jr.
- 1946 Dr. Carl A. Kauffman
- 1945 Dr. Alma H. Wilcox
- 1944 Dr. F. C. Bullington
- 1943 Dr. Leo C. Ransone
- 1942 Dr. Gerald T. Eaton
- 1941 Dr. William B. French
- 1940 Dr. Louis L. Meyer
- 1939 Dr. C. W. Devier
- 1938 Dr. E. B. Gatten, Sr.
- 1937 Dr. I. J. Mercer, Sr.
- 1936 Dr. I. J. Mercer, Sr.
- 1935 Dr. Herbert E. Cross
- 1934 Dr. E. C. Ellis
Distinguished Achievement
- 2021 Dr. Shawn H. Hobbs
- 2020 Dr. Michael Radoiu
- 2019 Dr. James E. Powers
- 2018 Dr. Joseph E. Droter
- 2017 Dr. Jeffrey C. Michaels
- 2016 Dr. James V. Cornetta
- 2015 Dr. Joel N. Zaba
- 2014 Dr. Fred E. Goldberg
- 2013 Dr. John Leeth
- 2012 Dr. Thomas Finley
- 2010 Dr. Robert M. Malatin
- 2009 Dr. Benjamin J. Lambert, III
- 2008 Dr. William Christopher Holcomb
- 2007 Dr. Robin P. Rinearson
- 2006 Dr. Thomas R. Cheezum
- 2005 Dr. Charles Harrill
- 2004 Dr. Roxann L. Robinson
- 2003 Dr. A. Gregory Toler
- 2002 Dr. Robert Resnick
- 2001 Dr. John L. Howlette
- 2000 Dr. Gordon W. Jennings
- 1999 Dr. Winston C. May
- 1998 Dr. William O. Wills
- 1997 W. Ernest Schlabach
- 1996 Dr. Robert L. Bass
- 1996 Dr. James V. Cornetta
- 1996 Dr. Lowell H. Gilbert
- 1996 Dr. Stanley L. Jason
- 1996 Dr. Steven A. Linas
- 1996 Dr. David A. Lotz
- 1996 Dr. Carol D. Record
- 1996 Dr. Roxann L. Robinson
- 1996 Dr. William O. Wills
- 1995 Dr. Lowell H. Gilbert
- 1994 Dr. James R. Prince
- 1993 Dr. Howard D. Kahn
- 1992 Dr. Bernard A. Morewitz
- 1991 Dr. Sidney H. Slavin
Vanguard of the Year
- 2021 Dr. Michael F. Polo
- 2020 Dr. Lauren G. Windham
- 2019 Dr. Cecelia C. Koetting
- 2018 Dr. Amanda J. Umlandt
- 2017 Dr. Lucas H. Spiker
- 2016 Dr. Amber Hurley
- 2015 Dr. Jenny N. Alsop
- 2014 Dr. Valerie Foytik
- 2013 Dr. Brent Segeleon
- 2012 Dr. Walter O. Whitley
- 2011 Dr. Jen Weigel
- 2010 Dr. Robert C. Sparrenberger
- 2009 Dr. Adam Parker
- 2007 Dr. Jennifer E. Davis
- 2005 Dr. Amanda Brewer-Smith
- 2004 Dr. Gerald B. Neidigh
- 2003 Dr. Jeffrey C. Michaels
- 2002 Dr. Shannon Franklin
- 2001 Dr. Michelle R. Trump
- 2000 Dr. Robert M. Allen
- 1998 Dr. Marc A. Hudson
- 1997 Dr. Pamela D. Lundberg
- 1996 Dr. Anne Meccariello
- 1995 Dr. David W. Barber
- 1994 Dr. Alan G. Toler
- 1993 Dr. Christopher J. Renner
- 1992 Dr. David H. Hettler
Keyperson of the Year
- 2021 Dr. Lisa V. Gontarek
- 2020 Dr. Adam Parker
- 2019 Dr. Joe Blackstock
- 2018 Dr. Fred E. Goldberg
- 2017 Dr. Joseph E. Droter
- 2016 Dr. Gerald R. Neidigh
- 2015 Dr. Walter O. Whitley
- 2014 Dr. David J. Tang
- 2013 Dr. George F. Brown
- 2011 Dr. David A. Lotz
- 2010 Dr. Tina N. Burr
- 2009 Dr. George F. Brown
- 2008 Dr. Samuel A. Martin
- 2007 Dr. Douglas Weberling
Meritorious Service
- 2018 Senator David R. Suetterlein
- 2017 Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr.
- 2015 Delegate R. Lee Ware
- 2014 Bruce B. Keeney, Sr.
- 2009 Delegate Christopher Peace
- 2009 Sherry Cooper (AOA)
- 2006 Delegate William Janis
- 2000 Delegate Philip Hamilton
- 2000 Senator William Barry
- 1999 Bruce B. Keeney, Sr.
- 1996 Stephan Volk, M.D.
- 1996 Delegate John Reid
- 1983 Delegate Thomas Moss, Jr.
