The Pinnacle Award for GCSAA members, the Col. John Morley Award is presented annually to an individual/group (singular award) who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent's profession. The contribution must be significant in both substance and duration, and may be, or have been, regional in nature.
Individuals must be nominated by a GCSAA member, an affiliated chapter or a qualified golf association. Nominees for the Col. John Morley Award must currently be, or have been, a Class A or Class B member of GCSAA. The nominee must not have been a recipient of the award.
The GCSAA Board of Directors selects the recipients of the Col. John Morley Award during its summer board meeting. The award is presented during the annual GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.
The nomination period for the 2026 Col. John Morley Award is now closed.
For questions, contact Jackie Groll, manager, executive operations. Contact Jackie Groll by email at jgroll@gcsaa.org, by phone at 785-832-4410, or by mail to GCSAA, 1421 Research Park Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3859.
Prior to 2022 award year, the Col. John Morley Award was known as the Distinguished Service Award (DSAs), and was open to both GCSAA member superintendents and wider industry members. Past winners of the DSAs are not eligible for nomination for the Col. John Morley Award.
Michael Kenna Ph.D.
John H. Foy
Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS
Edward Horton, CGCS
Tamas Tanto
Leah Brilman, Ph.D.
Richard Latin, Ph.D.
Nick Christians, Ph.D.
Patricia Vittum, Ph.D.
Brent Wadsworth
David Fearis, CGCS
Paul McGinnis, CGCS
Al Turgeon, Ph.D.
Melvin B. Lucas, CGCS
Cal Roth
Stephen G. Cadenelli, CGCS
Bruce Clarke, Ph.D.
S. Bruce Martin, Ph.D.
Frank Lamphier
Ken Mangum, CGCS
Dennis Lyon, CGCS
Roch Gaussoin, Ph.D.
Peter Dernoeden, Ph.D.
Frank Dobie
Robert A. Dickison, CGCS
James C. Husting, CGCS
Douglas W. Petersan
Mark Esoda, CGCS
George Hamilton, Ph.D.
Monroe Miller
Donald Hearn, CGCS
H. James "Jim" Loke, CGCS
Oscar Miles, CGCS
Stanley E. Metsker, CGCS
William A. Meyer, Ph.D.
Thomas W. Cook, Ph.D.
Stanley J. Zontek
William G. Fielder, CGCS
Tommy D. Witt, CGCS
Gordon LaFontaine
Danny H. Quast, CGCS
Gordon C. Witteveen
Robert D. Emmons
Joel D. Jackson, CGCS
Dudley H. Smithn
Houston B. Couch, Ph.D.
William F. Ploetz
Bruce R. Williams, CGCS
Euel Coats, Ph.D.
L.W. "Sonny" Dubose Jr., CGCS
Michael R. Bavier, CGCS
Gary T. Grigg, CGCS, MG
George B. Thompson, CGCS
Anthony B. Caranci Jr.
Dan Jones, CGCS
Palmer Maples Jr., CGCS
avid Mastroleo
Gerald L. Faubel, CGCS
Dr. J.M. Vargas Jr.
Dr. Coleman Y. Ward
Randy Nichols, CGCS
Dr. Paul Rieke
Dr. Milton Engelke
Dr. Ali Harivandi
Dr. Michael Hurdzan
Allan MacCurrach
John J. Spodnik
Dr. James B. Beard
Dr. Victor Gibeault
George M. Kozelnicky
C.E. "Tuck" Tate, CGCS
Dr. Noel Jackson
W. Bruce Matthews
Dr. Eliot C. Roberts
William Bengeyfield
Dr. Thomas Watschke
James W. Brandt, CGCS
Dr. C. Richard Skogley
Dr. Jack Butler
William B. Davis
Dr. Kenyon Payne
Eberhard Steiniger, CGCS
David S. Gourlay Sr.
Dr. James R. Love
Andrew Bertoni
John B. Steel, CGCS
Howard Kaerwer
Chester Mendenhall
James L. Blackledge
William C. Campbell
Clifford A. Wagoner, CGCS
Warren A. Bidwell
Keith Nisbet
James B. Moncrief
Dr. Joseph Troll
Dr. James R. Watson
Milton J. Bauman
Sherwood A. Moore, CGCS
Alexander M. Radko
Ben O. Warren Jr.
Geoffrey S. Cornish
Dr. Ralph Engel
Hans C. Schmiesser
Manuel L. Francis
Dr. John Madison
Dr. C. Reed Funk
Dr. Roy L. Goss
Dr. John C. Harper II
Arthur A. Snyder
Harold W. Stodola
Paul E. Weiss Sr.
Robert M. Williams
Dr. Joseph M. Duich
Leo J. Feser
Thomas C. Mascaro
Dr. William H. Daniel
Raymond H. Gerber
Dr. Fred V. Grau
Walter R. Boysen
Theodore W. Woehrle
Dr. Jesse H. DeFrance
Eugene B. Marzolf
James Smith
Joseph C. Dey Jr.
Helen F. Lengfield
Oyvind J. Noer
Dr. John Monteith
Oyvind J. Noer
Richard S. Tufts
Dr. Glenn Burton
Professor L. F. Dickinson
Malcom R. McLaren
Professor H. Burton Musser
Joseph Valentine
Thomas Dawson Jr.
Herbert Graffis
Dr. Fred V. Grau
Oyvind J. Noer
Colonel John Morley
John MacGregor
Colonel John Morley