Public Official of the Year Award

Each year, the Public Official of the Year Award honors a person that has exemplified leadership, ingenuity and excellence in his or her office.  Excellence in government is a challenge in our ever-changing world.  Delivering top quality service during good times is easy; only those with long-term vision are able to continue to deliver quality service in difficult or challenging times.

Nomination Guidelines:

• The boards of commissioners or supervisors, state associations, individual recorder, election official or clerk making the nomination must be a current member in good standing of the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks.

• The nominee must be a current member in good standing of the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks.

• Nominations should include support documents, such as newspaper articles, resumes and/or letters of support which illustrate the reasons the nominated individual should receive the award.

• All nomination materials must be received in the NACRC office by the deadline indicated on the nomination form. Materials arriving after that deadline will not be considered.

Past Recipients:

2011 - Ann Johnsrud, recorder, McKenzie County, N.D.
2010 - Helen Purcell, recorder, Maricopa County, Ariz.
2009 - Dana DeBeauvoir, clerk, Travis County, Texas
2008 - Sue Baldwin, director of records, Broward County, Fla.
2007 - David Orr, clerk, Cook County, Ill.
2006 - John T. Frey, clerk of circuit court, Fairfax County, Va.
2005 - Scott Doyle, clerk, Larimer County, Colo.
2004 - JoAnn Thomas, clerk, Peoria County, Ill.
2003 - Mark Monacelli, recorder, St. Louis County, Minn.
2002 - Cathy Pearsall-Stipek, Pierce County, Wash.
2001 - Maxine Olson-Hill, recorder, Burleigh County, N.D.
2000 - John O’Brien, register of deeds, Essex County, Mass.
1999 - Duane Smith, clerk, Minidoka County, Idaho
1998 - Rebecca Jackson, Jefferson County, Ky.
1997 - E. William (Bill) James, Blue Earth County, Minn.
1996 - Bernice A. Peterson, Sonoma County, Calif.
1995 - Ardis Schmitt, clerk and recorder, El Paso County, Colo.
1994 - Donna McKendrick, Tooele County, Utah
1993 - Judith Medearis, Hamilton County, Tenn.
1992 - Joan Swift, Clark County, Nev.
1990 - Ernest Hawkins, Sacramento County, Calif.
1989 - Nina B. Reid, Utah County, Utah
1988 - Helen Hudgens, Coconino County, Ariz.
1987 - Elizabeth Stokes, Roanoke County, Va.
1986 - Bernice J. Conley, Jackson County, Mo.
1985 - Jim Watkins, Lake County, Fla.
1984 - William F. Huish, Utah County, Utah
1983 - Irene Pruitt, Rockingham County, N.C.
1982 - Marjorie Page, Arapahoe County, Colo.
1981 - Loretta Bowman, Clark County, Nev.
1980 - Katie Dixon, Salt Lake County, Utah
1979 - E.D. “Bud” Dixon, Polk County, Fla.
1978 - Joe Breidenbach, Walworth County, Wisc.
1977 - Oscar Soliz, Nueces County, Texas
1976 - Betty June Hayes, Orange County, N.C.
1975 - Eulalia Hotz, Madison County, Ill.
1974 - Fred G. Hill, Jefferson County, Texas
1973 - Eunice Ayers, Forsyth County, N.C.
1972 - William G. Sharpe, Los Angeles County, Calif.

Click here to nominate a fellow NACRC member.