Past Award Winners

Arkansas Optometric Association Award Recipients

O.D. of the Year

This award is given to the one optometrist who has made an outstanding accomplishment during the year. It is generally awarded to a member who has a history of exceptional service to the Association.

2025 Alex Bell, O.D.
2024 Joe Sugg, O.D.
2023 Matthew E. Jones, O.D.
2020 Belinda R. Starkey, O.D.
2017 Chevron Ergle, O.D.
2016 Susan DeBlack, O.D.
2014 Sabre Wright, O.D.
2012 Audie Teague, O.D.
2011 Creighton Simmons, O.D.
2009 Annette Webb, O.D.
2008 Patricia Westfall, O.D.
2007 Harry Harrell, O.D.
2006 Bryant Ashley, Jr., O.D.
2002 Dale Morris, O.D.
2001 Robert Smalling, O.D.
2000 Kenny Wyatt, O.D.
1998 J. Wayne Buck, O.D.
1997 Kenneth N. Hubbard, Jr., O.D.
1996 Jean Medlock, O.D.
1995 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1995 George Haas, O.D.
1994 Howard Flippin, O.D.
1993 Jim B. Lieblong, O.D.
1992 Myron Shofner, O.D.
1991 Perry Amerine, O.D.
1989 Jean Medlock, O.D.
1985 George Haas, O.D.
1981 William Townsend, O.D.
1980 Howard Flippin, O.D.
1977 Erwin R. Lax, O.D.
1976 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1972 Myron Shofner, O.D.

Young OD of the Year

The criterion for this award is to be a young O.D. who has been in practice a minimum of four years and the award should be made somewhere in the fourth to tenth year of service to the profession. It should be given to a person who shows promise and interest in ArOA leadership by volunteering his service to committees and special projects and showing an exceptional zeal.

2025 Jade Coats, O.D.
2024 Aaron Tollett, O.D.
2022 Jessica Dinwiddie, O.D.
2020 Julie M. Dolven, O.D.
2019 Alex Bell, O.D.
2018 Katie Brown, O.D.
2016 Melia Robertson, O.D.
2013 Joseph Sugg, O.D.
2012 Matthew Jones, O.D.
2011 James Hertzog, O.D.
2008 Chevron Ergle, O.D.
2007 Sabre Yocham, O.D.
2006 Patricia Westfall, O.D.
2005 Shane Ford, O.D.
2004 Chris Morris, O.D.
2002 Darren Brodie, O.D.
2000 Dale Ladd, O.D.
1997 Jeffery K. Smith, O.D.
1996 James O. Davis, O.D.
1995 Creighton Simmons, O.D.

Distinguished Service Award

This award is given to a member of the Association, who has distinguished his or herself in the service to the profession over many years. This is generally considered to be an award for the mi- career O.D. or older, but certainly not necessarily limited to the older O.D.s when the magnitude of service is so great for this most prestigious honor.

2025 Vicki Farmer, IOM, CAE
2025 Matthew E. Jones, O.D.
2025 Joe Sugg, O.D.
2022 Bryant Ashley, Jr., O.D.
2019 Susan DeBlack, O.D.
2019 Chevron Ergle, O.D.
2012 Rusty Simmons, O.D.
2009 Dean R. Gurley, O.D.
2008 Patricia Westfall, O.D.
2008 Tasker Rodman, O.D.
2008 Bryant Ashley, O.D.
2007 Wayne Buck, O.D.
2007 Herman Ginger, O.D.
2007 Audie Teague, O.D.
2006 Jim B. Lieblong, O.D.
2006 Dale Morris, O.D.
2006 John Sugg, O.D.
2005 Kenny Wyatt, O.D.
2001 Howard Flippin, O.D.
1998 Audie Teague, O.D.
1997 Jim B. Lieblong, O.D.
1996 J. Wayne Buck, O.D.
1996 Bert O. Miller, O.D.
1995 Betty Valachovic, CAE
1993 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1993 Jean Medlock, O.D.
1992 D. Lloyd Guerin, O.D.
1992 Ralph Wilson, O.D.
1991 Dale Morris, O.D.
1991 Newt R. Nelson, O.D.
1989 Bert O. Miller, O.D.
1985 Robert W. Smalling, O.D.
1981 Virgil Cook, O.D.
1979 George Haas, O.D.
1979 Thomas H. Gulley, O.D.
1977 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1976 Myron Shofner, O.D.
1975 Erwin R. Lax, O.D.
1974 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1972 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.

Special Service Award

This award is given to a member of the Association who served the profession with excellence over a shorter period of time than the Distinguished Service Award. This generally is considered to be an award for the mid-career O.D. or younger, but not necessarily limited to the younger O.D. when the magnitude of service is so great over a shorter period of time that this award is justified. Example: special projects and assignments. It may be given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to our profession, the people of Arkansas, the Association and who may not necessarily be an O.D.

2025 Representative Jon S. Eubanks
2025 Senator Dave Wallace
2024 Debbie Henley
2022 Christina Vranich, O.D.
2021 Richard Castillo, O.D., M.D.
2020 Belinda R. Starkey, O.D.
2020 Matthew E. Jones, O.D.
2020 Joe Sugg, O.D.
2020 Chevron Ergle, O.D.
2020 Susan DeBlack, O.D.
2020 Creighton A. Simmons, O.D.
2020 Bryan Armstrong, O.D.
2016 Eric Robbins, O.D.
2016 Alex Bell, O.D.
2016 Airiell Schwab, O.D.
2016 Sharon Carter
2015 Derek Long, O.D.
2014 James Hertzog, O.D.
2013 Auxiliary to the ArOA
2010 Joe Chaney, O.D.
2009 Kim Slaten
2009 Jason Gates, O.D.
2008 Patricia Westfall, O.D.
2008 Wanda Vaughn, O.D.
2007 Annette Webb, O.D.
2007 Trisha Morris
2007 Shirley Liles
2006 Chris Morris, O.D.
2006 David Witherspoon, O.D.
2006 Sabre Yocham, O.D.
2005 Bryant Ashley Jr., O.D.
2004 Shane Ford, O.D.
2002 Harry Denison, O.D.
2001 DeAnne Witherspoon, O.D.
2000 Scott Seller, O.D.
2000 Lynne Wyatt
1999 Creighton A. Simmons, O.D.
1999 Jeff Smith, O.D.
1998 Roger Totten, O.D.
1997 Bryant Ashley Jr., O.D.
1996 Ralph H. Wilson, O.D.
1996 Jerry T. Young, O.D.
1995 J. Wayne Buck, O.D.
1995 Robert W. Smalling, O.D.
1994 Creighton A. Simmons, O.D.
1992 William D. Simmons, O.D.
1991 Verrell O. McNabb, O.D.
1987 George Haas, O.D.
1977 Myron Shofner, O.D.
1976 Thomas H. Gulley, O.D.
1972 Virgil Cook, O.D.

Myron Shofner Award of Excellence

This award denotes legislative excellence. A mentor optometrist who has been an excellent example of professionalism and has been very active in the legal legislative arena, with a long history of service to the ArOA. It is given to an optometrist who is serving or has served in the Arkansas legislature with distinction and has worked for the good of the people of Arkansas.

2024 Perry Amerine, O.D.
2020 Creighton A. Simmons, O.D.
2018 Bryant Ashley, Jr., O.D.
2009 John Boozman, O.D.
2008 Jim Lieblong, O.D.
2007 Robert W. Smalling, O.D.
2006 Howard Flippin, O.D.
2003 George Haas, O.D.
1998 Bert Miller, O.D.
1997 Charles I. Hughes, O.D.
1995 William H. Townsend, O.D.
1991 Erwin Lax, O.D.
1989 Myron Shofner, O.D.

Lifetime of Excellence Award

This award is given to an optometrist who has exemplified the highest ethical, professional and caring character during his or her practice life and who has reached the later years of their service to optometry, or has retired, and has shown a willingness to serve in numerous capacities. His/her career has been an example for all Arkansas Optometrists to follow and their life has been one that has had a positive influence upon their family, community, and peers. This member has been an example to others of what it means to put the Arkansas Optometric Association ahead of personal goals.

2025 Dan Hennessey, O.D.
2025 Kenny Hubbard, O.D.
2024 Bryant Ashley, O.D.
2024 Rusty Simmons, O.D.
2022 Howard Flippin, O.D.
2022 Robert Smalling, O.D.
2015 George Haas, O.D.
2015 DeAnne Witherspoon, O.D.
2014 Harry Harrell, O.D.
2014 Herman Ginger, O.D.
2013 Harry Denison, O.D.
2013 Dale Morris, O.D.
2013 Kenny Wyatt, O.D.
2012 Darrell Broadway, O.D.
2012 Garry Haas, O.D.
2011 Thomas Gulley, O.D.
2011 Ralph Wilson, O.D.
2010 Erwin Lax, O.D.
2010 Glen Bryant, O.D.
2010 Jean Medlock, O.D.
2009 Jerry Park, O.D.
2009 Henry B. Burton, O.D.
2008 Lloyd Guerin, O.D.
2008 William Simmons, O.D.
2008 Bert Miller, O.D.

Paraoptometric of the Year

This award is given to an outstanding paraoptometric who works for a member of the Arkansas Optometric Association and has shown Service to Optometry and the association; community involvement and has a personal endorsement from a member of the Arkansas Optometric Association. Criteria to consider may include: Office competence – office management and technical skills; service to optometric association; contributions of personal time and effort on behalf of the profession’s advancement; participation in public information activities (vision screening projects, service with sight saving groups, etc.).