The CLMA periodically recognizes individuals whose contributions have furthered the contact lens field. Here you’ll find listed recipients of these honors:
- CLMA Medal of Honor
- Dr. Josef Dallos Award
- Honorary Recognition Award
- Creative Design & Process Award
- Industry Enhancement Award
- Trailblazers Award
- Leonard da Vinci Award
- GPLI Practitioner of the Year
- GPLI Educator of the Year
- Lab Technician of the Year
CLMA Medal of Honor
For embodying the ideals of the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association at the highest levels, through service and achievements within the contact lens industry.
2018 Quido A. Cappelli
Dr. Josef Dallos Award
For outstanding contribution to the development and advancement of the contact lens industry and for service to humanity.
1972 Dr. Josef Dallos
1973 William Policoff
1974 Americo Oriani
1974 Philip Salvatori
1975 William Feinbloom
1976 Newton Wesley
1976 George Jessen
1978 Joseph Cinefro
1978 Solon Braff, OD
1979 George Nissel
1980 Charles Neefe
1981 William D. Platt, OD
1982 Professor Otto Wichterle
1983 Joseph Goldberg, OD
1984 George K. Meszaros
1985 Robert Mandell, OD, PhD
1986 Joseph Soper
1987 Quido A. Cappelli
1988 Neal J. Bailey, OD, PhD
1989 Irving Fatt, PhD
1991 Richard M. Hill, OD, PhD
1992 Irvin M. Borish, OD
1993 Joseph L. Breger, OD
1994 Perry Rosenthal, MD
1995 Daniel G. Schuman
1996 Leonard Seidner, OD
1997 Raleigh S. Althisar, Sr., OD, DOS
1998 Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd
1999 Carl F. Moore, FCLSA
2000 Joseph T. Barr, OD, MS
2001 Donald R. Korb, OD, FAAO
2002 Robert M. Lohr, OD
2003 Brien Holden, PhD
2006 William J. “Joe” Benjamin, OD
2011 Craig W. Norman, FCLSA
2018 Jan PG Bergmanson, OD, PhD, DSc
2020 Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, FAAO
2022 Paul Randolph Rose B Sc, Dip Opt, CNZM, FCCLNZ
Honorary Recognition Award
In appreciation for a lifetime of dedication and service to the contact lens industry.
1987 Edwin Gary
1989 Harry W. Hind
1989 Frederick J. Danker
1991 Raleigh S. Althisar, Sr., OD, DOS
1992 Charles P. Creighton, OD
1993 Robert J. Morrison, OD
1994 William C. Hoffman
1995 Martin Topaz
1996 Andrew M. Weir
1997 J. Dan Bailey
1998 Maurice G. Poster, OD
1999 Alexander J. Torda
2000 Patrick J. Caroline, FAAO
2001 Craig W. Norman, FCLSA
2002 Mel Sanford
2004 Kyoichi Tanaka
2005 Michael A. Wildman
2005 Pamela B. Witham
2006 Boyd Richardson
2007 Charley Creighton
2008 George K. Meszaros
2011 William K. Veneman
2011 George “Chip” Heavican
2013 Fadi G. Achkouti
2015 Keith D. Parker
2020 Gretchyn M. Bailey
2020 Adam W. Farkas, MD, MBA
2022 Kenneth W. Leonhard
Creative Design & Process Award
For innovation in lens design and manufacturing process to the enhancement of the contact lens industry.
1987 Armand Boucher
1988 Dr. George Tsuetaki
1989 David Volk
1989 Samuel Loshaek, PhD
1990 James R. Albrecht
1991 Anthony L. Salvatori
1992 David G. Ewell, OD
1993 Herman Young
1994 Jan Svochak
1995 Adolf Welt
1996 Charles W. Neefe
2000 Paul Rose, OD
2002 Adolf Wilhem Mueller-Welt, DOS
2004 Nick Siviglia, Ph.D
2006 Nick Stoyan
2008 Robert O. Breece, OD
2011 Neal Bergman
2018 John McGregor
2022 Christine W. Sindt OD, FAAO, FSLS
Industry Enhancement Award
For unselfish dedication to the CLMA and the contact lens industry.
1987 Earl Saltzgiver
1988 Stephen Young
1989 Charles R. Harris
1990 Charles P. Hegge
1991 David Walker
1992 George E. Glady
1993 Malcolm J. McLean
1994 Clay Kowarsh
1995 Jay Woychick
1996 Edward W. Vernon
1997 Duane Tracy
1998 Erik A. Larsen
1999 Charles R. Vermett
2000 William C. Hoffman
2001 Quido A. Cappelli
2002 Krist Jani
2004 Joseph T. Barr, OD, MS
2005 Ursula Lotzkat
2006 Jan Daniel
2007 Dr. Eef van der Worp
2008 David B. Bland
2011 James W. Lunkley
2013 Janice Y. Adams
2015 Daniel L. Bell
2015 Daniel J. Manelli
2015 Troy A. Miller
2018 John D. Hibbs
2020 Ron Walker
2022 Roger Zimmer
Trailblazers Award
For outstanding achievement in product development to the enhancement of the contact lens industry.
1987 William C. Hoffman
1987 Donald Ratkowski
1987 Perry Rosenthal, MD
1988 Leonard Seidner, OD
1988 Dr. Joseph Krezanoski
1988 John C. Petricciani
1989 Larry Platt, FCLSA
1989 Cornell S. Marschalko
1989 Dennis C. England, OD
1990 Donald L. Woodford, Sr.
1991 Jerry J. Hornstein
1991 Joseph L. Breger
1992 J.R. “Rod” Keller
1993 William F. Coombs
1994 Charles Nishimura
1995 Don Brucker
1996 Dr. Kai Su
1997 Charles P. Creighton, OD
1999 Archer C. Holcomb
2001 Raleigh S. Althisar, Sr., OD, DOS
2004 Joe Sicari
2005 Alex Cannella
2006 Frank Svochak, Sr.
2007 Jim Drain
2008 Thomas E. Anastor
2011 Daniel L. Bell
2013 Naomi J. Svochak
2015 Al J. Vaske
2018 Vic McCray, MD Team Tangible Science
2020 Jerome A. Legerton, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO
2-22 James A. Bonafini, Jr.
The Leonardo da Vinci Award
For vision in establishing the focus of the CLMA and dedication to the achievement of its goals.
1988 Bernard O. Megard
1990 Donald J. Ratkowski
1992 Carl F. Moore, FCLSA
1995 Quido A. Cappelli
1998 George K. Meszaros
2000 Daniel J. Manelli
2001 William D. Platt, OD
2003 Raleigh S. Althisar, Sr., OD, DOS
2004 David T. Rusch
2015 Christopher F. Pantle
2018 Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd, FAAO, FSLS
2018 Jan B. Svochak
2020 C. Lee Dickerson
GPLI Practitioner of the Year
For outstanding professional expertise in fitting customized contact lenses to benefit patients with improved vision and corneal health, and to advance the contact lens field. (Prior to 2012, this award was the GP Lens Practitioner of the Year.)
1999 Richard D. Ebling, OD
2000 Joel Halpern, OD
2001 Thomas G. Quinn, Jr., OD, MS
2002 Keith S. Ames, OD
2003 Joe J. Yager, OD
2004 Cornel LeBlanc, OD
2005 Richard W. Baker, OD, FAAO
2006 Barry Adler, OD
2007 Robert M. Grohe, OD
2008 Robert L. Davis, OD, FAAO
2011 Christine W. Sindt, OD, FAAO
2013 Gregory W. DeNaeyer, OD, FAAO
2014 Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FAAO, FCLSA
2015 Clarke D. Newman, OD, FAAO
2016 Douglas P. Benoit, OD, FAAO
2017 Jeffrey Sonsino, OD, FAAO
2018 Renee E. Reeder, OD, FAAO
2019 Susan A. Resnick, OD, FAAO
2020 Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO
2021 Jason G. Jedlicka, OD, FAAO
For 2022 and beyond, please see www.GPLI.info
GPLI Educator of the Year
For Outstanding achievement as an educator in the area of GP and custom soft contact lenses.
2021 Daniel Fuller, OD, FAAO (Dipl), FSLS
For 2022 and beyond, please see www.GPLI.info
Lab Technician of the Year
For outstanding professional lab technician.
1988 Larry Platt, FCLSA – Platt Contact Lens Service
1989 Greg Goodhart (Awarded in 2006) – Con-Cise Contact Lens Company