Adair Award
for distinguished service
This is the highest honor OCIABC can bestow on one of its members. IABC-Oregon Columbia and our predecessor organizations have been giving this award since 1954.
H. Rodney Adair was a talented corporate editor in a time when internal communications was a new, but growing part of the communications profession. At the time of his passing in 1954, Mr. Adair was the vice president of the Oregon Industrial Editors Association (OIEA). That organization later became the Oregon Association of Editors and Communicators (OAEC), and subsequently was one of the professional organizations that formed IABC.
From “A History of the OAEC”:
“…amid the excitement of a successful year (53/54), young Adair was stricken. The death of this popular and talented editor struck a hard blow to every member. In sorrow, they resolved to keep alive his memory by the establishment of an annual award. A plaque was designed, to bear the name and publication of a member editor cited each year for editorial excellence. This award, which still endures, added dignity and stature to the association. The first year’s recipient was Ed Cauduro, in 1954. He shared the honor with John Fergison, his successor as editor of Space magazine (The Hyster Company).
“The influence of one of our finest thus continues down the years to flower among editors and communicators who did not get to know the man they honor, but still are inspired by his life and service.” (1969)
The award initially honored editorial excellence. In 1967, the Rodney Adair Award was broadened to honor professional achievement and outstanding service to the association. Today, the award commemorates Mr. Adair’s legacy of active membership and dedicated service, and is presented (annually) to a member who has demonstrated sustained and exceptional levels of service to the chapter and professional advancement. OCIABC remembers his legacy of chapter commitment, active membership, and dedicated service by making this the highest honor the chapter can bestow on a member.
Award winners
2014 Chris Wain
2012 Tracey Barnett
2011 Will Simonds
2007 Glenn Perkins
2006 Barbara Kommer
2005 Barbara Bryant
2004 Tom Unger
2002 Sue Donnellan (Brundege)
2000 Ron Iseri
1998 Sam Vigil
1995 Julie Piper-Finley
1990 Anna Browne
1989 Barry Lacter
1988 Craig Walker
1987 Jan Mitchell
1986 Chris Normandin
1985 Barbara Ellis
1984 Randy Shipley
1983 Scott Guptill
1982 Paula Umbreit
1981 George Carver
1980 Dolores Chenoweth
1979 Tom Santee
1978 Albert Arnst
1977 Stan Thompson
1976 Ken Cushman
1975 Dave Rianda
1974 Dave Underhill
1973 Dulcy Mahar
1972 Sylvia Erickson
1971 Mitchell Scott
1970 Norton Rosenblum
1969 Nell Conley
1968 Mary Ann Lockwood
1967 Frank Passmore
1966 Louise Hoyt
1965 Hazel Judd
1964 David Hedges
1963 The Creel Committee
1962 The Creel Committee
1961 Newton Thornton
1960 Lawrence Halpenny
1959 Glenn Gillespie
1958 Floyd Bennett
1957 Sam McKinney
1956 Elbert Boice and Horace Dobson
1955 John Fergison
1954 Ed Caduro and John Fergison