The Donato J. Pugliese Award is given in honor of its namesake, the “Godfather” of SECoPA.
Mr. Pugliese gave his time generously to ASPA and SECoPA throughout his lifetime. After his passing in 1985 at the age of 55, this award was created to honor his memory and service and to honor the SECoPA member that best reflects Mr. Pugliese’s level of commitment to service and encouragement of their colleagues.
Purpose: To honor a senior SECoPA member who has made contributions to the organization and to the profession of public service.
Selection: The nominee varies according to the proclivities of the selection committee – sometimes the award has gone to someone who has worked ‘in the trenches’ for SECoPA for many, many years but has little visibility outside SECoPA. At other times, it has gone to someone who has worked ‘in the trenches’ plus has widespread visibility in the discipline. The committee considers all possible nominees and selects the most deserving person. The committee often looks at names considered in prior years to consider those on the list who have not yet received the award.
Committee Membership: The award is selected by a committee of three, comprised of the previous year’s award winner, the senior ASPA representative from the district, and one member of the SECoPA board appointed by the SECoPA chair.
Award: The recipient will be presented with a plaque at the SECoPA awards luncheon.
Winners:
2024 – Dallas Breen & Bradley Wright
2023 – Patrick C. Exmeyer
2022 – Meg Streams
2021 – P. Edward French
2020 – No conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Ines Beecher
2018 – Tom Barth
2017 – John Kiefer
2016 – Jo Ann Ewalt
2015 – Phin Xaypangna
2014 – Dorothy Norris-Tirrell
2013 – Kim Hoffman
2012 – Kendra Stewart
2011 – Steven Bobes
2010 – Edward Jennings
2009 – Steven Condrey
2008 – Claire Mostel
2007 – Howard Frank
2006 – Gary Rassel
2005 – Kathy Hensley
2004 – Glenn Rainey
2003 – Mary Ellen Guy
2002 – Mary Taylor
2001 – Tom Lynch
2000 – Arie Halachmi
1999 – Bob Cunningham & Bill Solomon
1998 – Tom Lauth
1997 – Janet Patton
1996 – Earle Klay
1995 – Bart Hildreth
1994 – Bob Whelan
1993 – Anne Kilpatrick
1992 – Bill Collins
1991 – Gus Turnbull
1990 – Wynn Teasley
1989 – Don Whitman
1988 – Tom Vocino
1987 – Fred Carter
1986 – Jeff Duffey
1985 – Walter Lambert