The Pat Panfile-Ben Luce Memorial Award is considered by many to be the most prestigious award given to a Toastmaster in District 65.
The award is generally given to a Toastmaster who has shown exemplary leadership in organizing, communicating, executing, and spreading the benefits of the Toastmasters program, both within as well as outside the Toastmasters organization. In addition, the award recipient must demonstrate excellent communication skills in all aspects of the Toastmasters program.
The Ben Luce award was first given posthumously to the widow of Mr. Ben Luce, DTM, PDG, in 1975. A year later in 1976, the Ben Luce award was given to Mr. Pat Panfile, DTM, PDG, PID, PIP. In 2005, it was renamed the Pat Panfile-Ben Luce Memorial Award.
A great majority of the recipients are either DTMs or Past District Governors/Directors, or both.
Award Recipients:
2023 – Dan Ferens, DTM
2022 – Ellen Pieklo, DTM, PDD
2021 – No Award Given
2020 – No Award Given
2019 – Kate Olsen, DTM, PDG
2018 – Linda Lathrop, DTM, PDG
2017 – Scott Leonard, DTM
2016 – Lorraine Mott, ACS, ALB, PDG
2015 – Betsy Kalweit, DTM
2014 – Dennis Gauda, DTM, PDG
2013 – Michael Slyck, ATM-B, PDG
2012 – John Lum, DTM
2011 – Gordon Penniston, DTM, PDG
2010 – Robert Logan, ATM-G, PDG
2009 – Sam Mehta, DTM, PDG
2008 – Harry Carlson, DTM, PDG
2007 – DeWitt Hendricks, DTM, PDG
2006 – Ruth Parmenter, DTM, PDG
2005 – Marian Lamanna, DTM, PDG
2004 – Dick Czarnecki, DTM
2003 – Hal Blair, DTM
2002 – Donna Sokolowski, DTM, PDG
2001 – Arnold Krueger, DTM
2000 – Victoria Weinke, DTM
1999 – Gloria Langston, DTM
1998 – No Award Given
1997 – Betty Muka, DTM
1996 – Ruth P. Matson, DTM, PDG
1995 – Marlene Markham, ATM
1994 – Arlene Roth, DTM
1993 – Terry Schutt, DTM, PDG
1992 – John C. Sleeth, ATM, PDG
1991 – No Award Given
1990 – No Award Given
1989 – Alfred E. Smith, DTM, PDG
1988 – Joseph Cole, DTM, PDG
1987 – Harold Roth, DTM, PDG
1986 – Alan Turof, DTM, PDG
1985 – Nancy Ellen Scott, DTM, PDG
1984 – Ed Banaszak, ATM, PDG
1983 – Fred Ludwick, DTM, PDG, PID
1982 – Barney Moore, PDG
1981 – Ray Tardiff, DTM, PDG
1980 – Geroge Havens, ATM, PDG
1979 – Andy Anderson, DTM, PDG, PID
1978 – Ken Speigl, PDG
1977 – Peter Zachmann, ATM, PDG
1976 – Patrick Panfile, DTM, PDG, PID, PIP
1975 – John Ben Luce, ATM, PDG