The Celebrity Luncheon, held each year in April, originated in 1985 and is the original awards ceremony of its type in the Lubbock area. With the annual recognition of Headliners, Gold Medalists and the winner of the prestigious George Mahon Award, the Lubbock Chapter celebrates the positive contributions and achievements of those people who make Lubbock and West Texas a great place to live.
Proceeds from the Celebrity Luncheon support the Bea Zeeck AWC Scholarship for women studying mass communications at Texas Tech University as well as the professional development of members.
Headliner Awards are presented to people or groups of people whose achievements or contributions have received widespread positive recognition through the media.
Gold Medals are awarded to people who, over an extended period of time, have worked to improve the quality of life for a broad spectrum of those living in the Lubbock area.
The Louise Allen Award, established in 1991, is presented to an organization that has exhibited outstanding corporate community service. The award is named for Louise Allen, founder of the Lubbock Professional Chapter of Theta Sigma Phi (now Women in Communications).
Communicator of the Year is the highest award given to a member of the Lubbock Professional Chapter. Voted on by the members, this person is chosen for outstanding personal and professional achievement and support of the local chapter.
The George Mahon Award for Extraordinary Public Service, named in honor of Lubbock’s long-time U.S. Congressman, is presented only when AWC believes a person has dedicated his or her adult life to a broad array of public service efforts. Service must go beyond the demands of any job or office held by the recipient. The award is presented to an individual who “can’t say no” when asked to engage in public service and whose service consistently results in accomplishments.
Judges for Headliner, Louise Allen and Gold Medal Awards are the members of the Celebrity Luncheon Committee, and the names of those winners are announced prior to the luncheon.
Judges for the George Mahon Award are the current president and president-elect, the immediate past president and any member of the organization who may have won the award previously. These are the only people who will know the name of the George Mahon winner prior to the announcement made at the luncheon.
[tabs slidertype=”left tabs” fx=”slide”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext]Past Headliner Award Winners[/tabtext] [tabtext]Past Gold Medal Award Winners[/tabtext] [tabtext]Past Louise Allen Award Winners[/tabtext] [tabtext]Past George Mahon Award Winners[/tabtext] [tabtext]Past Communicator of the Year Award Winners[/tabtext] [/tabcontainer] [tabcontent]2013 – South Plains Honor Flight, Dr. Stephen Berk, Lubbock Lemonade Day, Kliff Kingsbury
2012 – All-Lubbock Marching Band, Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon, Dr. Robert Salem, West Texas Home Builders Association, YWCA
2011 – Johnny Mac, Jeanne and Katrina Brown, Estacado High School: 2010 State Championship Basketball Team, Idalou High School: 2010 State Championship Football Team and 2011 State Championship Basketball Team, Seshadri “Ram” Ramkumar, PhD, Texas Tech University Libraries
2010 – Jana and Robert Barnhill, B.U.S.T. – Buckle Up Stop Texting Campaign, Sarah Jo Lambert, Lubbock Moonlight Musicals/Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Texas Tech University Meat Judging Program
2009 – Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech 2008 Football Team, Cactus Cuties, Lubbock Centennial Committee
2008 – Beth Ashmore, Lubbock Western All-Stars, FiberMax, Michael Crabtree
2013 – Tommy & Kay Davis, Helen McElwee, Dr. Bolanle Olaniran, Noe Brito, Melissa Grimes
2012 – Ron Betenbough, Dr. Linda Brice, Dr. Juan Fitz, Sharyn Ivory, Alice White
2011 – Dr. Doug Klepper and Terry Hawkins, Leslie and Mike Moss, Celeste Thompson, Irasema Velasquez
2010 – J.C. Chambers, Debbie and Don Curry, Don McInturff, Eddie Owens, David Seim
2009 – Bill and Peggy Dean, The Caldwell Family, Catherine (Cathy) S. Porter, Robert Narvaiz, Food 2 Kids
2008 – Shirley Garrison, Dr. John Thomas, Bobbie Gaither, Laurie Foster, Brenda and Joe Wilbanks
2013 – Hispanic Association of Women
2012 – Lubbock Downtown AMBUCS
2011 – Wentz Orthodontics
2010 – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal for Team Pinktober
2009 – City Bank Texas
2008 – Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
2007 – Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc.
2006 – Breedlove Dehydrated Foods
2005 – Betenbough Charitable Foundation
2004 – New Day Window Cleaning Service
2003 – Wells Fargo Bank
2002 – American State Bank
2001 – Covenant Health System
2000 – 96.3 FM KLLL
1999 – Cox Communications
1998 – Target Good Neighbor Committee
1997 – The McDougal Companies
1996 – Texas Instruments
1995 – KJTV
1994 – Southwestern Bell Community Relations
1993 – United Supermarkets
1992 – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
1991 – KCBD-TV
2013 – Dr. Robert & Betty Carr, and Dr. Brian Carr
2012 – Louise Hopkins Underwood
2011 – Linda Greenstreet
2010 – Margaret Talkington
2009 – Rev. Ted and Betty Dotts
2008 – Alvin Davis
2007 – Robert Ewalt
2006 – Marsha Sharp
2005 – T. J. Patterson
2004 – Joan Irvin
2003 – Shirley Madden
2002 – Doyle Gammill
2001 – Choc and Virginia Hutcheson
2000 – Preston Smith
1999 – Anita Bass
1998 – Carol McWhorter
1997 – Winifred Woods Vigness
1996 – Alan and Sandy Henry
1995 – Louise and David Cummins
1994 – Eadie Armstrong
1993 – Georgia Mae Ericson
1992 – Mary Nell and Jack Strong, Sr.
1991 – Carol Swain
1990 – Lou and Ray Diekemper
1989 – James and Louise Allen
1988 – Ethel McLeod
1987 – Betty Anderson
1986 – W. Curry and Frances M. Holden
1985 – George Mahon and Robert Nash
2013 – Kaley Daniel
2012 – Jeanna Roach
2011 – Victoria Lovelady
2010 – Renée Underwood
2009 – Melissa Pierce
2008 – Shelly Gonzales
2007 – Sherry Saffle
2006 – Diane Harlan
2005 – Angela Beesley
2004 – Diane Harlan
2003 – Denise Garlington
2002 – Karen Brehm
2001 – Dr. Rhonda Gibson
2000 – Kelley Roach Pitts
1999 – Mary Ann Edwards
1998 – Mary Ann Edwards
1997 – Donna Giovannetti
1996 – Dr. Judy Oskam
1995 – Faye Nordyke Kennedy
1994 – Sherry Wood Saffle
1993 – Dawna Cowan Walls
1992 – Mary Ann Edwards
1991 – Tina Steffen
1990 – Patti Finley Douglass
1989 – Kathleen Davis
1988 – Debbie Hubbard
1987 – Beth Pratt
1986 – Nancy Sullivan
1985 – Beth Pratt