NAVA Honors
The Captain William Driver Award -- Through the generous sponsorship of several commercial members of NAVA ( Bear Flag Museum, Jeff Bridgman American Antiques, CRW Flags, Dixie Flags, The Flag Guys, The Flag Shop, Herold Flags, Preservation Designs, and TME CO., Inc. ), and a certificate bearing the recipient's name and a cash prize of US$250 is awarded for the best paper presented at the annual meeting. The award honors Captain William Driver, who coined the phrase "Old Glory" in referring to the U.S. flag. Captain Driver was from Salem, Massachusetts and appropriately the award was first presented when NAVA 13 was held there in 1979. Important factors in judging the papers are research and the presentation of new documented information. Click here for the Driver Award Guidelines.
The Whitney -- This award, named for Dr. Whitney Smith of the Flag Research Center, is a statue modeled after the Emmy, holding up a star with V-shaped arms. It is awarded to the person who makes an outstanding contribution to North American Vexillology, and only when there is a worthy recipient.
- Dr. Whitney Smith (1992)
- Grace R. Cooper (1994)
- Dr. Scot Guenter (1998)
- Dr. John Purcell (1999)
The Vexillonnaire Award -- established in 2003, recognizes a significant and successful act of activist vexillology , involving flag design or usage, in North America. A single Award is presented annually, with its recipient announced at NAVA's Annual Meeting.
Honorary Members -- Honorary membership may be bestowed upon individuals who make an outstanding contribution to NAVA, per Section 3 of NAVA's Bylaws.
- Vivian W. Lehman (1970; deceased)
- Vice Admiral William Rea Furlong, USN (1972; deceased)
- Robert S. Gauron (1982; deceased)
- Harry Manogg (2001; deceased)
- Bishop D. Ralph Spence (2001)
- Rev. John R. B. Szala (2001; deceased)
- Dr. Whitney Smith (2009)
- Dr. John Purcell (2010)
- Dr. Scot Guenter (2011)