The G. Bruce Blair Awards

The G. Bruce Blair Medal is the highest honor which the Western Amateur Astronomers (WAA) bestow to an individual. It is considered the “Nobel Prize” of amateur astronomy and is awarded only to a living professional or amateur astronomer who has made an important contribution to amateur astronomy.

2023	Gerald McKeegan	Space Scientist/Reflective Materials, outstanding contributions to the Chabot Space and Science Center
2022	Timothy Hogle	JPL Spacecraft Systems Engineer for Voyager
2021	Paul D. Malley	Engineer at Johnson Space Center and achievements in asteroid studies
2020	Bing Quock	Morrison Planetarium
2019	Conrad Jung	Staff Astronomer at the Chabot Space and Science Center
2018	Wally Pacholka	Accomplished Astro Photographer
2017	Jim and Virginia Strogen	Astro-Oasis in Missouri and lifetime achievement in creating astronomy friendly sites
2016	Nathan McKenna	Leader of the “Save the Zeiss Planetarium” effort at the Chabot Space and Science Center
2015	Tim Thompson	Past President of the LAAS, Long time volunteer/presenter at the Mt. Wilson Observatory
2014	Richard Ozer	Director of the Golden State Star Party, co-director of the Chabot Telescope Makers’ Workshop.
2013	Albert J. Highe, PhD	Observer, Author, ATM, telescope designer, speaker and member of TAC.
2012	Jim Benet	OCA-Outreach Coordinator has reached more than 100K people in SoCal.
2011	Scott Roberts	Amateur astronomer, former Meade representative, and then owner of Explore Scientific.
2010	Mr. Robert K. Buchheim	Researcher, author, OCA Board Member/trustee, Board Member – SAS.
2009	Mike Simmons	Past Pres-LAAS. Founded MWOA and AWOB. 100hrsofAstronomy Co-Chair.
2008	Ms. Marni Berendsen	Developer NASA/ASP Night Sky Network. Leader of Project ASTRO, author.
2007	Mr. Carter Roberts	Bay area amateur, CSSC and RTMC board member, long time EAS President.
2006	John Christopher “Chris” Butler	Artist, speaker. Program/exhibits director at Griffith Observatory.
2005	Dr. David L. Crawford	Teacher, co-founder of IDA, promotes sensible night lighting.
2004	Mrs. Jane Houston Jones	Past Pres. of AANC, writer, Cassini Senior Outreach Spec.at JPL
2003	Mr. F. Jack Eastman	Well known ATM, member of LAAS, DAS, advisor at Chamberlin Observatory.
2002	Dr. Mike D. Reynolds	Director of Chabot Space Science Center. Active amateur supporter.
2001	Monsignor Ron Royer	Astro-photographer, early developer of tri-color photo process.
2000	Dr. Joel W. Goodman, PH.D.	Bay area amateur, speaker, Docent MDOA, ALPO Saturn Recorder.
1999	Mrs. Denni Frerichs Medlock	Past Secretary of WAA, Co-coordinator of Group 70.
1998	Mr. Richard Berry	Promoter of CCD astrometry, author of CCD Cookbook.
1997	Mr. Robert Stevens	Educator, Secretary and Treasurer to RTMC.
1996	Dr. Ed Krupp	Director of Griffith Observatory and book author.
1995	Mr. Don Machholz	Discoverer, observer and popularizer of comets.
1993	Mr. Tom Johnson	Celestron founder, popularizer of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.
1992	Mr. Kevin Medlock	Builder of large amateur telescopes.
1991	Dr. John Westfall	ALPO director & coordinator of Pro – Amateur research projects.
1990	Mr. David H. Levy	Teacher of young people, author and comet discoverer.
1989	Dr. Harold F. Weaver	ASP patron and long-time supporter of amateur astronomy.
1988	Mr. Stephen J. Edberg	Famous international amateur astronomer.
1987	Mr. Jack Borde	Long time ATM, and a participant in WAA, MDAS and Moonwatch.
1986	Mr. Ben Mayer	Famous west coast astro-photographer.
1985	Ms. Betty Neall	WAA secretary in 50s. Astronomical organizer in northern California.
1984	Mr. Chesley Bonestall	Famous astronomical artist.
1983	Mr. John Sanford	Astro-photographer, teacher and author.
1982	Mr. Douglas Berger	Founder of Astronomy Day.
1981	Mr. Ashley Thomas McDermott	Professor and astronomy popularizer in southern California.
1980	Mr. Paul Zurakowski	Well known ATM; Director of Chabot Telescope Makers’ Workshop.
1979	Mr. Kingsley W. Wightman	Long-time teacher of Astronomy at Chabot Observatory.
1978	Mr. Jackson Carle	Well known Central Valley ATM.
1977	Mr. Frank Miller	Very active in AANC and WAA organizations.
1976	Mr. Patrick Moore	Famous astronomical popularizer and author.
1975	Mr. Clifford W. Holmes	Founded the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference.
1974	Mr. John Dobson	Popularized the “Dobsonian” telescope design.
1973	Mr. Raymond Coutchie	Astronomical artist, astro-photographer, and author.
1972	Mr. Clinton Ford	Long-time Secretary of the AAVSO.
1971	Mr. George A. Carroll	West coast builder of large telescopes.
1970	Mr. Charles F. Capen	Expert observer, especially of Mars.
1969	Mr. Thomas R. Cave	Telescope Manufacturer and Mars observer.
1968	Dr. David Dunham	Long-time coordinator of grazing occultation observations.
1967	Dr. Leslie C. Peltier	Famous comet and variable star observer.
1966	Dr. Clarence P. Custer	Active in the WAA and famous astro-photographer.
1965	Dr. Clyde Tombaugh	Discoverer of the Planet Pluto.
1964	Mr. Walter Scott Houston	Author of “Deep Sky Wonders.”
1963	Mr. Thomas Cragg	Solar, planetary, and variable star observer.
1962	Arthur & Natalie Leonard	Active participants of Moonwatch & WAA.
1961	Mr. Carl Wells	WAA founder and well known ATM.
1960	Mr. David Barcroft	ALPO secretary 1947-1974.
1959	Dr. Earle G. Linsley	Director Chabot Obs. 1923-1947 & Co-founder of EAS and WAA.
1958	Dr. Dinsmore Alter	Director Griffith Obs. & Co-founder of WAA Board.
1957	Dr. Margaret Mayall	Director AAVSO 1949-1973.
1956	Dr. Otto Struve	Leading 20th Century astronomy popularizer.
1955	Prof. Walter H. Haas	Founder of ALPO, Co-founded WAA.
1954	Mr. Albert G. Ingalls	ATM pioneer and author of ATM 1, 2 and 3.