Distinguished Geographer

The Distinguished Geographer award recognizes a history of service to the Society, exemplary teaching of geography at any educational level, and a record of professional service at the state and/or national level.

For full selection guidelines, click here.

Recipients of the Illinois Geographical Society’s Distinguished Geographer Award 

1970 - present

Year Recipient Affiliation
2025 Dean Butzow Lincoln Land Community College
2024 John Kostelnick Illinois State University
2023 Stacey Brown Amilian Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
2022 Nick Goodwin American Water
2021 Irving Cutler
2020 Carmen Maso’ US Environmental Protection Agency
2019 Ty Liles College of Lake County
2018 Larry Resutko
2017 Donald Tolen
2016 Joseph Kubal
2015 Susan Holderread New Trier High School
2014 Ani Thompson Smith Elgin School District U-46
2013 Leonard Ealey Pekin Public Schools
2012 Christopher J. Sutton Western Illinois University
2011 Michael W. Cornebise Eastern Illinois University
2010 James F. Marran New Trier High School
2009 Keith Sculle Illinois State Historic Preservation Agency
2008 Noel Stirrat College of Lake County
2007 David L. Schein Federal Emergency Management Agency
2006 Terry Harshbarger Parkland College
2005 Mary Ann Hanlin Elmwood Elementary School
2004 Norman T. Moline Augustana College
2003 Judy Bock Palombi Middle School
2002 Linda Weatherwax Sterling Schools
2002 Glen Weatherwax Sterling Schools
2001 Fred Willman Kennedy Junior High School
2000 Robert M. Ashley Red Bud High School
1999 Roger J. Liska Amos Alonso Stagg High School
1998 Leonard L. Hodgman Joliet Junior College
1997 Jill Freund Thomas Illinois State University
1996 Charles E. Womack Lake Land College
1995 R. Lynn Bradley Belleville Area College
1994 Edward B. Espenshade, Jr. Northwestern University
1993 A. Richard Longwell Western Illinois University
1992 Fred H. Walk Normal Community High School
1991 Arlin Fentem Western Illinois University
1990 Albert J. Larson University of Illinois, Chicago
1989 Michael D. Sublett Illinois State University
1988 Norman C. Bettis Illinois State University
1987 James E. Patterson Illinois State University
1986 Fred Lampe Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
1985 Joan Longmire Elgin School District U-46
1984 James W. Vining Western Illinois University
1983 Richard Houk DePaul University
1982 Elizabeth Eiselen Oak Park, IL
1981 Annemarie Krause Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1980 Ronald E. Nelson Western Illinois University
1979 B. Ross Guest Northern Illinois University
1978 Martin Reinemann Northern Illinois University
1977 Evelynne M. Berg Morton College
1976 Dalias A. Price Eastern Illinois University
1975 Reece A. Jones Western Illinois University
1974 Mildred I. Finney University of Illinois, Chicago
1973 Alden Cutshall University of Illinois, Chicago
1972 Mary M. Colby University of Illinois, Chicago
1971 Robert E. Gabler Western Illinois University
1970 Herbert Gross Concordia Teachers College