This award, established in 1949, is the highest honor in the field of photojournalism. It is awarded to not more than two individuals each year and is granted only if achievement is, in the opinion of the Committee on Honorary Recognitions, of a sufficiendly high standard. Two awards may be given:
To a working photojournalist an individual who advances, elevates or attains unusual recognition for the profession of photojournalism by conduct, initiative, leadership, skill, and devotion to duty.
To an individual not a working photojournalist for unusual service or achievement beneficial to photojournalism or for an outstanding technology advance in equipment or processes of photojournalism.
Joseph A Sprague, who died in 1948, was a press technical representative for Graflex Corp., Rochester, NY. The firm manufactured Graflex and Speed and Crown Graphic cameras and flash units. Sprague is credited with the design of the Big Bertha, Magic Eye and Combat Camera and dozens of refinements to the Speed Graphic.
2018
Michelle Agins
Lisa Krantz
2017
David Burnett
Al Tompkins
2016
Michael Williamson
Ken Kobre
2015
Boyd Huppert
Jonathan Malat
2014
Michel du Cille
2013
Ken Hackman
Mickey Osterreicher
2012
Dennis Dimick
Charles W. "Chick" Harrity
2011
Donald R Winslow
Joe Torelli
2010
Bill Luster
2009
Bob Lynn
Kevin Scofield
2008
Steve Sweitzer
Sharon Freed
2007
John Long
Kenny Irby
2006
Bob Brandon
Clyde Mueller
2005
Rob Galbraith
Wally McNamee
2004
Dirck Halstead
William Pekala
2003
Joe Elbert
Dave Metz
2002
William Allard
Kurt Wimmer
2001
Carol Guzy
Mike Davis
2000
John Goheen
Michael Morse
1999
Darrell Barton
James Stanfield
1998
Ken Burns
Roy DeCarava
1997
James Geladas
James Nachtwey
1996
Bill Eppridge
Rick Smolan
1995
Ralph Morse
Jack Corn
1994
C Thomas Hardin
Gordon Yoder
1993
Bernie Boston
Steve Tello
1992
J Bruce Baumann
Peter Stackpole
1991
David Douglas Duncan
Harvey A Weber
1990
Raymond H DeMoulin
Marion Post Wolcott
1989
Robert C Dotson
John H White
1988
Gilbert Grosvenor
Gordon Parks
1987
Dean Conger
Edwin Sabol
1986
James Gordon
Carl Mydans
1985
Charles "Ned" Hockman
Anthony J Spina
1984
Robert Brush
1983
Arnold Drapkin
Larry Hatteberg
1982
Kenneth Cooke
John Savage
1981
Harold G Buell
F.W. 'Bill' Lyon
Joseph Rosenthal
1980
Stanley Forman
George A Shivers
1979
Howard Chapnick
Brian Lanker
1978
Ernie Crisp
Angus McDougall
1977
John W Ahlhauser
Wilbur E Garrett
1976
Eddie Adams
Cornell Capa
1975
Dave Hamer
Charles L Scott
1974
John Faber
Sam C Pierson Jr
1973
Cal Olson
Dick Pollard
1972
Richard C Clarkson
John Durniak
1971
Alfred Eisenstaedt
John G MorriS
1970
Murray Becker
Dr Frank Stanton
1969
Ollie Atkins
Harold Blumenfeld
1968
Morris Berman
Roy Emerson Stryker
1967
Robert E Gilka
Arthur Rothstein
1966
James R Bennett
Gail William Churchill
1965
Don Swenson
Hugh B Terry
1964
Russell V Hamm
William P Steven
1963
James Godbold
Harry W McHose
1962
Norris Harkness
Charles Higgins
1961
James Colvin
Charles Cooper
1960
Maj. William Lookadoo
Kenneth McLaughlin
1959
Robert Boyd
Marshall Field Jr.
1958
Ray Mackland
Floyd McCall
1957
Gardner Cowles
Paul Threlfall
1956
Joseph Benetti
Dr. Thomas S Curtis
Hon O Otto Moore
1955
Clifton Edom
Milton Freier
Robin Garland
1954
Vincent S Jones
Arthur L Witman
1953
J Winton Lemen
Don Mohler
1952
Robert H Dumke
Morris Schwartz
1951
William Randolph Hearst
John Hemmer
1950
Kent Cooper
William C Eckenberg
Frank Scherschel
1949
Joseph Costa
Harold Edgerton
Henry Luce
Ernest Sisto
George Yates
