Awards

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

Paul Rose, Josef Dallos Award, 2022
Paul Randolph Rose, B Sc, Dip Opt, CNZM, FCCLNZ. Winner of the Dr, Josef Dallos Award, 2022.

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

Kenneth W. Leonhard, winner of the Honorary Recognition Award, 2022
Kenneth W. Leonhard (left). Winner of the Honorary Recognition Award, 2022.

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

Christine W. Sindt OD, FAAO, FSLS (with Dr. Ed Bennett). Winner of the Creative Design and Process Award, 2022.
Christine W. Sindt OD, FAAO, FSLS (with Dr. Ed Bennett). Winner of the Creative Design and Process Award, 2022.

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. Vermette
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

Roger Zimmer, right (with Dr. Ed Bennett). Winner of the Industry Enhancement Award, 2022.
Roger Zimmer, right (with Dr. Ed Bennett). Winner of the Industry Enhancement Award, 2022.

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
2022 James A. Bonafini, Jr.

James A. Bonafini, Jr. Winner of the Trailblazers Award, 2022.
James A. Bonafini, Jr. Winner of the Trailblazers Award, 2022.

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