The Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award

The Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award is presented annually to a member of the engineering profession who exemplifies the spirit, described below, of public service that betters humankind, therefore, bringing honor to the engineering profession.

Albert Walter Gilchrist, for whom this award was named, was by profession an engineer and by further service to his fellowmen a State Legislator, a Speaker of the House, and ultimately, the 20th Governor of the State of Florida from 1909 to 1913. Gilchrist's own life symbolizes the intent of this award.

As Governor, he was noted for promoting the State of Florida nationally and internationally, for improvement of penitentiaries, and for sponsoring legislation to safeguard the health of people and livestock. Gilchrist County was named for him.

Governor Gilchrist was a humanitarian as exemplified by donating much of his estate to founding a Masonic home in St. Petersburg and for other charitable causes. His love for people was in evidence when he initiated Mother's Day in Florida five years before this day became one of national recognition and used part of his estate for ice cream and cake to be given to the children of Punta Gorda each Halloween--a tradition still continuing today.

Basic Criteria

• Candidate must be a professional engineer registered in the state of Florida who has achieved distinction resulting in substantial beneficial publicity and/or recognition of the profession through public office and/or civic leadership.
• Candidate must have achieved distinction in his own technical field and mode of practice.
• Candidate shall be a Florida resident and preferably a member of the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers in good standing.
• Candidate shall have worked for the professional, civic and technical interests of the engineering profession.

Procedure/Evaluation Criteria

• The nomination shall be no more than a two page summary describing the nominee's involvement in the following:
  • Public office and/or civic leadership. (40%)
  • Participation in FICE/FES. (20%)
  • Participation in other professional and technical activities and societies (40%)
  • Be sure to include in your transmittal letter the nominees name, title, company name, phone, fax and email address.
• The FICE Public Relations Committee shall review each nomination and make its recommendation to the Board of Directors two months prior to the Annual Summer Conference & Exposition. If no qualified nominations are received, a nominating sub-committee will identify worthy candidates of the A.W. Gilchrist Award and recommend them to the Board of Directors. The sub-committee shall consist of the immediate past president of FICE, a member of the FICE Public Relations Committee, and a third member, who will be appointed by the FICE president.
• A plaque shall be presented to the winner at the Annual Summer Conference & Exposition. In addition, recognition will be provided in the FICE Update, FES Journal, and press releases to state-wide media.

Click here to download the application in PDF format.

Click here to download the application in MS Word format.

Submit To:

FICE Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award
P.O. Box 750
Tallahassee, FL 32302

DEADLINE: February 15, 2008

Past Winners

1976	James A. Ruth, P.E.
1977	Arthur Belefant, P.E.
1980	John Walker Vogt, P.E.
1981	Suheil E. Jammal, P.E.
1982	C. Eugene Lent, P.E.
1983	William L. Barton, P.E.
1984	L. Daniel Fulford, P.E.
1985	Ben C. Scales, P.E.
1986	James E. Sawyer, P.E.
1987	Charles Carlan, P.E., P.L.S.
1988	Herbert S. Saffir, P.E.
1989	Richard B. Gassett, P.E.
1990	Richard M. Miller, P.E.
1991	Charles L. Meister, P.E.
1992	John A. Grant, Jr., P.E., P.L.S.
1994	Raymond W. Miller, P.E.
1997	Benjamin G. Watts, P.E.
1998	Fermin A. Diaz, P.E.
2002	David E. Flinchbaugh, P.E., Ph.D.
2003	Senator Winston W. "Bud" Gardner, Jr., P.E.
2004	John B. Zumwalt, III, P.E.
2005	Representative Trudi K. Williams, P.E.
2006	None
2007	Peter J. Sheridan, III, PE