The purpose of the Walter B. Petersen Award is to recognize persons who have made significant contributions over a period of years to the well-being of the California Section. Walter B. Petersen, for whom this award is named, is thus honored for his many years of outstanding service to the Section. He held numerous section offices over the years and was Chair of the California Section in 1969. For many years he authored a popular column in the VORTEX entitled “Personals by Petersen” that covered news of promotions, awards and general information about Section members. It is in his honor, with recollection of his high standards of service, that we recognize others who have given significantly to the advancement of the California Section.

This award was established in 1982 and is supported by the California Section. Nominees must be a member, a former member, or an affiliate of the Section. The honoree is presented with an engraved plaque and a $200 gift from the Section to commemorate this award. Past Recipients:

  • Louis R. Pollack                       1982
  • Theodore K. Cleveland           1983
  • Robert R. Grinstead                1984
  • Paul C. Condit                          1985
  • Eda Kinney Gilman                1986
  • Frederick F.Rust                     1987
  • Alan C. Nixon                          1988
  • Glenn Fuller                            1989
  • Attila E. Pavlath                      1990
  • Don R.Baker                            1991
  • Wilfred H. Ward                   1992
  • John S.Sheahan                       1993
  • Charles P. Brewer                   1994
  • Malcolm S. Singer                   1995
  • (Sequencing changed)             1996
  • Elaine Yamaguchi                    1997
  • Paul Vartanian                         1998
  • Mary Singleton                        1999
  • Igor Sobolev                           2000
  • Linda Wraxall                         2001
  • Robert Lundin                          2002
  • Samuel Markowitz                  2003
  • Bryan Balazs                            2004
  • Marinda Wu                             2005
  • Lou Rigali                                2006
  • Alex Madonik                          2007
  • Michael Cheng                         2008
  • Alex Mihailovski                     2009
  • Lee Latimer                              2010
  • Neal Byington                          2011
  • Sheila Kanodia                        2012
  • Allen “Al’ Verstuyft               2013
  • Wally Yokoyama                    2014
  • Eileen Nottoli                           2015
  • Margareta (“Greti”) Séquin    2016
  • Mark Frishberg                       2017
  • Jim Postma         2018
  • Donald MacLean                    2019