Outstanding Service in the Public Interest

This award is bestowed upon an individual outside the profession who has done something to further the cause of proper eye care for the public. This award has typically gone to someone in the political areas, professions, or the news media. The award serves to recognize their acts for the visual welfare of the public.

Previous Winners:

1985 Sen. William C. Dunbar, Rep. Steven Moberly

1986 Rep. Philip T. Warner, Rep. J. Roberts Dailey, Rep. Richard M. Dellinger, Rep. Sheila Klinker, Sen. James Jontz, Sen. Roger L. Jessup, Doris Dean Parnell, Myra Till

1987 Sen. Robert D. Carton, Rep. Dan Coats

1988 Leah S. Mannweiler, William S. Keown, Sen. Douglas A. Hunt, Rep. William A. Crawford, Leigh E. Morris, Eugene F. Downhour, Alfred F. Izdepski, Ronald W. Wuensch

1989 Indiana Lions Eye Bank, Lloyd J. Banks, Frank C. McAlister, James Roche, D.D.S.

1992 Honorable Evan Bayh, Honorable Linley E. Pearson, Paula L. Walton, M.D. Maurice E. John, M.D., Indiana Pharmacists Association

1993 Leroy Rhea, R.Ph., W. Wayne Townsend, Rep. George Schmid, Indiana Chapter, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Jim Wilkey, President, Indiana Women's Auxiliary, Fraternal Order of Eagles. Jeanne Gland, President

1994 Rep. Craig Fry, Sen. Patricia Miller, Sen. Richard Worman, Central Indiana Reading Radio, John "Chris" Bailey, M.D., Joseph Faust, M.D.

1995 Howard Green, Brian Bolinger, Tom Granger, Sandy Kyle, Mark Feider, Steve York, Chris Bowers, Kathleen Sparks, Mark Eckerling, Rep. Jeff Espich

1996 Dr. Suellen Reed, Patricia Eifert, R.N.

1997 Ed Bowman, National Federation of Independent Business; Barbara Sargent , Indiana Optometry Board and Health Profession Bureau; Joseph McSoley

1998 Robert McNevin, Legal Counsel

1999 Katie Humphreys, Rozann Rothman

2000 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; Joyce Roush

2001 Sally Hegeman, Ph.D.

2002 Rep. Vaneta Becker, Rep. Charlie Brown, Rep. Bill Crawford and Sen. Steve Johnson

2003 Greg Wilson, M.D., Indiana State Health Commissioner

2004 Prevent Blindness of Indiana

2005 Ms. Joni Albright and Ms. Joyce Black from the Indiana State Board of Health and Health Care Excel

2007 Rep. Peggy Welch, Bloomington

2008 Sen. Marvin D. Riegsecker, Goshen

2009 Sen. Ryan Mishler, Bremen

2010 Paige Reichardt, Valparaiso; Barbara Marvel McNutt, Indianapolis

2011 Rep. Craig R. Fry, Mishawaka

2013 Rep. Ed Clere, New Albany

2014 Rep. Steve Davisson, Salem

2015 Rep. Steve Davisson, Salem

2016 Sen. Michael Crider, Greenfield; Rep. Ed DeLaney, Indianapolis; Rep. Randy Truitt, West Lafayette

2017 Sen. Ron Grooms, Jeffersonville, IN

2018 Jolene Bracale, Indianapolis, IN

2019 Tom Sullivan, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

2020 Sen. Jean Leising, Oldenburg, Indiana District 42

2022 Timothy Fischer, President & CEO, Vision First Indiana Lions Eye Bank