Each year awards are given to various individuals and groups who exemplify the mission and values of FFI. Below is a list of past recipients for each award FFI has bestowed.
Awards Program
Procedures
Criteria
Nomination Form
1970
Ed Strickland
1971
Gene Andregg
1974
Lee Wulff
1975
Arnold Gingrich
1978
Jim Eriser
1979
Enos Bradner
1981
J. Stanley Lloyd
1984
Gardner Grant
1986
Lefty Kreh
1987
Bob Cuningham
1989
Gordy Young
1990
Bill Nelson
1992
Marty Seldon
1993
Keith Groty
1996
J.D. Skip Hosfield
1997
Joan Wulff
Fred Stevenson
1998
Darwin Atkin
1999
Ralph Moon
2000
Charles Nelson
2004
L.D. "Buck" Goodrich
2006
Mel Kreiger
Greg Pitts
2007
Jim Schramm
2008
Bob Jacklin
2011
Tom Jindra
2012
Ron Cordes
2014
Herb Kettler
2015
Philip Greenlee
Bruce Richards
Len Zickler
Al & Gretchen Beatty
Rick Williams
Dave Peterson
1966
Herman Kessler
1968
Philip Blazovic
1969
Gene Anderegg
Dr. James Gilford
Will Godfrey
1972
Phile Chase Ray Fisher
1973
Paul Collier
James Eriser
Stanley Lloyd
1976
1977
Steve Raymond
Errol Champion
1980
Karl Glander
1982
1983
Danny Beatty
Bud Lily Brian Anderson
1985
Virgina Buszek-Perry
Barbara Rohrer Keith Groty
Jean Young J.D. "Skip" Hosfield
1988
Joan Wulff Starr Thurston
Pat Moon Al Wilkey
Mary Black Allen Rohrer
1991
Jean Black Jim Schramm
Linda "Sam" Thomas Bas Verschoor
Judy Lehmberg Fred Stevenson
1994
Sally Ann Brown Al Beatty
1995
Maggie Merriman Terry Lyons
Joan Whitlock Darwin Atkin
Lovell Lawrence (Larry) Hampy
Dorothy Schramm Greg Pitts
Rhea Topping Tom Jindra
Tracie Maler
2001
Gretchen Beatty Keith Burkhart
2002
Steven Jensen
2003
Ruth Zinck Ken Jennings
Carol Staples Bob Jacklin
2005
Pat Smith Ron Cordes
Carol Oglesby Roger Maler
Judy Boston Pete Greenan
2009
2010
Phil Greenlee
Carl Johnson
Bud Frasca
2013
Carl Zarelli
Sherry Steele Russel Husted
Ron Winn
2016
Tilda Evans Kyle Moppert
Thomas "Tom" Gadacz
Patty Lueken
Jonathan Walter
Sam Decker
United Fly Tyers of Boston – MA
Pend Oreille Fly Fishing Club – ID
The Steamboaters – OR
Indianapolis Fly Casters – IN
Washington Fly Fishing Club – WA
Theodore Gordon Flyfishers – NY
Green Country Fly Fishers – OK
Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Assoc – CT
Boise Valley Fly Fisherman – ID
Pasadena Casting Club – CA
Diablo Valley Fly Fisherman – CA
Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club – WA
Fontinalis Fly Fisherman – NY
Rogue Flyfishers – OR
Red Cedar Fly Fishers – MI
Flycasters of San Jose – CA
Kaweah Flyfishers – CA
Clark-Skamania Fly Fishers – WA
West Slope Chapter TU – Montana
Upper Snake River Chapter TU – ID
Aquabonita Fly Fishers – CA
Mid-South Fly Fishers – TN
Central Oregon Flyfishers – OR
Greater Flint Muddler Minnows – MI
North Idaho Fly Casters – ID
Flint Hills Fly Fishing Club – MI
Flygirls – MI
Southern Oregon Fly Fishers – OR
St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers – IN
Ozark Fly Fishers – MO
North Coast Fly Fishers – OH
Michigan Fly Fishing Club – MI
Evergreen Fly Fishing Club – WA
West Michigan Hacklers – MI
Puget Sound Flyfishers – WA
Magic City Fly Fishers – MT
Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers - WA
Acadiana Flyrodders of Lafayette - LA
Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers - CA
Southern Sierra Fly Fishers - CA
Lake Erie Chapter FFF - NY
Twin Tiers - Five River - NY
Fly Fishers of Northwest Florida
North Arkansas Fly Fishers
FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award – An award presented to the person who has made significant contributions to the art of fly tying.
Jacqueline Knight
A. I. Anderson
Dave Whitlock
George Grant
E.H. "Polly" Rosborough
Andrew Puyans
George Harvey
Everett Drake
Boyd Aigner
Doug Prince
Art Flick
Frank Johnson
Bill Blackstone
Billy Munn
Dick Nelson
Jimmy Nix
Kent Bulfinch
Wayne Luallen
Stanley Walters
Chuck Echer
Royce Dam
Marvin Nolte
Ned Long
Judy Lehmberg
Jeff "Bear" Andrews
Al Beatty
Bruce Staples
Helen Shaw Kessler
Bill Heckel
Chris Helm
Reginald Denny
Gary Borger
John Van DerHoof
Henry Hoffman
John Newbury
Scott Sanchez
Tony Spezio
Steven Fernandez
Walt Holman
Oscar Feliu
Mike George
James "Jim" Ferguson
Fred Hannie
Tom Logan
FFI Darwin Atkin Memorial Fly Tying Achievement Award – An award created to recognize an FFI member whose long-term contribution to fly tying is widely recognized and respected. This award is for outstanding achievement and demonstrated commitment of the person in significantly advancing the craft and art of fly tying.
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award – An award presented to an individual who excels in teaching the art of fly tying to tiers at all skill levels.
Dutch Baughman
Glenn Wilson
FFI Women's Community Development Award - An award presented to an individual, group, or organization who has demonstated unusual deviotion to increasing the diversity of the FFI community by expanding the involvement of women. This award is to recognize leaership and service on the regional, national, and/or international level.
2021
Marlene Huston
Leigh Ann Swanson
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award - An award is based upon a single extraordinary contribution or on a continuous prominent effort promoting comprehensive fly fishing education. Extraordinary contributions are those that are superior and conspicuous in relation to others and consistent with the philosophies of the FFI.
2019
Dick Erickson
Dorothy Schramm
FFI Conservation Award – An award presented to a person, group or organization which has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources in the past year.
Paul McCloskey Bob Cunningham
Cecil Andrus
Art Lohman Roy Haile Bob Cunningham The Mad Men
Ron Marcoux Ron Jones
George Reiger Edwin Pister
Robert H. Boyle Jim & Ann Edmondson
Phil Able
Fly Fisherman Magazine
Donn Furman Henry’s Fork Foundation Michigan Natural Resource Commission
Dr. Charles M. Loveless Robert Baiocchi
The Steamboaters Peter Silberhorn Fred Houwink Stanford Miller
Franklin Moquette Don Stehsel Nature Conservancy Spencer Turner
R. Brett Matzke Montana Land Reliance
Michigan Hydro Re-Licensing Coalition Pete Soverel Lars Ake-Olsson
Bill Jennings Wyoming Fly Casters
Robert W. Nicholson
John Crocker
Nick DiCroce Henry’s Fork Foundation
Richard Izmirian John Sager
Dan Iwata John Varley
Vernon Young
Richard Brown Frank Moore United Anglers of Casa Grande HS
Ed Ferrogairo Doug Hutzell
Verne Lehmberg
Wolf River Conservancy Mitch Keiler
Mark Rockwell Cindy Charles
Rusty Gates Evergreen Fly Fishing Club
Stripers Forever Jayne Ferrante
Yvon Chouinard
Robert Tabbert
Phil Hulbert
Univ. of S. Mississippi/Gulf Coast
Carl McNeil
Michael S. Allen Brandon L. Barthel Timothy W. Birdsong James M. Long Andrew T. Taylor Michael D. Trinagli
Brad Eaton
Tarrant Regional Water District
FFI Leopold Conservation Award – An award presented to an individual honoring them for a lifetime of fisheries conservation effort and work.
Dave Rosgen
Ted Williams
Jim Lichatowich
Robert J. Benhke
Peter Bisson
Rip Cunningham
Karl Wickstrom
David Philipp
Robert Hunter
Jack Stanford
Robert Greswell
Bill Bakke
Christopher Camuto
Edwin Philip Pister
FFI Lee Wulff Award – An award to recognize manufacturers or a retail business that demonstrates outstanding innovation in the fly fishing industry through their products and stewardship.
Orvis Company, Scientific Anglers, Cortland Line Co., Fenwick
Whiting Farms, Inc.
Metz Hatchery
Bob Marriotts Fly Fishing Store
Sage Manufacturing
Blue Ribbon Flies
The Patagonia Company
Wolf River Trading Company
Wasatch Custom Angling Products
Wapsi Fly Company
Temple Fork Outfitters
The Fly Show
Loon Outdoors
Mike Michalak
Hareline Dubbin
Jim Murphy – Hardy North America
Abel Fly Reels
LaMoyne Hyde – Hyde Drift Boats
FFI International Ambassador Award – Originally this award was presented to the fly fisher who meets certain high standards of sportsmanship, fishing skill and stream-side etiquette in taking and conserving game fish internationally. In 2021 the criteria was changed and is now presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to expand Fly Fishers International world-wide furthering the mission and vision of the organization. Contributions, including development organizationally, member engagement, program growth and delivery of benefits and opportunities should have been made over a period of years.
Cal Dunbar
Hans Ruedi Hebisen
Leon Chandler
Jean Young
Jack Dennis
Bas Verschoor
Charles Jardine
Berris D. Samples
Dan McCrimmom
Jack Gartside
Denise Maxwell
Curt Gowdy
Kuni Masuda
FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award– An award presented to a fly fishing author whose work embodies the philosophy and spirit of Roderick Haig-Brown, particularly a respect for the ethics and traditions of fly fishing and an understanding of rivers, the inhabitants and their environments.
Nick Lyons
Ted Leeson
Art Lingren
Thomas McGuane
Gary LaFontaine
Mid-South Fly Fishers
James Prosek
Richard N. Williams
FFI Silver King Award– A saltwater award, named after the highly prized saltwater trophy, the Tarpon. It is presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the sport of saltwater angling.
Dan Blanton
Lou Tabory
Jeff Pierce
Don Larmouth
Nick Curcione
Phil Shook
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction Award - An award given in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the art of fly casting instruction.
Mel Krieger
Dennis Grant
Todd Somsel
Don Simonson
FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award - An award given in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program, have dedicated themselves to fly casting instruction and have shared their knowledge with others.
Joe Libeu
Gordy Hill
Massimo "Max" Malli
Mark Surtees
IFFF Environmental Conservation Scholarship – A scholarship given occasionally to individuals enrolled in graduate school pursuing an advanced degree (MSc, PhD, LLD, JD) that will have application to solving environmental issues relating to water quality and/or protection of native fish species and their aquatic habitats. presented to an individual honoring them for a lifetime of fisheries conservation effort and work.
Lee Van Put
FFI Council Leadership Award - An award presented to that council president who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the FFI and through outstanding contributions has benefited the organization at the National or International level. It is not expected that this will be an annual award.
Sherry Steele
Steve Jones
2008 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
ERMC
Richard (Rick) Weisberg
SWC
Carole Katz
SOC
Sister Carol Ann Corley
ORC
Dwight Klemin
MAC
John Brognard
OHC
Jim Stone
GCC
Mark Delaney
NEC
Robert Ford
NCC
Dave Ford
WRMC
Bob Long, Buck Goodrich
WSC
Vern Jeremica
FLC
Gary Meyer
GLC
Wolf Schrey
SEC
Mike Arnold Wanda Taylor
2009 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Mark Steffen
Alan Canfield
Chuck Easterling
Jerry Polen
Paul Metzger
L. F. “Buzzy” Burns
Bob Long
Derrell Bridgman
Inge Schrey
Bob Middo, Mickey Powell
Jerry McBride
2010 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
John Trammell
Ray Bianco Aguabonita Flyfishers Club
Lawrence Murphy
Paul Blanch
Leslie Wrixon Paul Metzer
Buck & Faye Goodrich Ben & Carollee Goodrich
Brooks Bouldin
Mark Rockwell
Mike Arnold
Mark Johnson
Larry Gibbs
2011 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Jim Aubrey
Jim Ferguson
Colleen Jenkins
Karen Brand
Ned Lunt
Chet Smith
Stephen Piper
Mike Clancy
Patricia “Sam” Decker
Will Godrey
2012 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
2013 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
CHC
Russell Husted
UMWC
2014 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Gary Applebee
WAC
2015 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
EWC
TXC
2016 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Mas Okui Bill O'Kelly Robin Nicholas Bart Hall
Todd Heggestad
2017 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Jonathan Walter Brett Edwards
Rodney Priddle
Gary Jones
Lew Leichter Joseph Lemire Michael Schweit
Gerald Schwan
2018 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
John Doss Michael Vella
Michael Gallert
Aaron Christensen
Tim Lawson Dok Arvanites
David Crawford Don Puckett
Scott Norby
2019 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Paul Boals
Kirk Klingensmith
Michael Schweit
David Reichert