Blue Key Service Award

The Blue Key Service Award is presented to distinguished individuals who have made a major contribution to the University, the state and nation. Past recipients are shown here along with their titles at the time of their selection.


Past Recipients

RecipientAffiliationYear Awarded
Herman E. TalmadgeU.S. Senator from Georgia1964
Richard B. RussellU.S. Senator from Georgia1965
Philip WeltnerFormer Chancellor, University System of Georgia1965
Carl E. SandersFormer Governor of Georgia1966
S. Ernest VandiverFormer Governor of Georgia1966
Phil CampbellUnder-secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture1967
Jasper DorseyVice President, Southern Bell Telephone Company1967
George L. Smith IISpeaker, Georgia House of Representatives1967
Jack B. RayFormer Georgia State Treasurer1968
Phil M. LandrumU.S. Representative, District 9 of Georgia1968
Robert G. Stephens, Jr.U.S. Representative, District 10 of Georgia1969
John A. SibleyFormer Board Chairman, Trust Company Bank of Georgia1969
Eugene R. BlackFormer President of the World Bank1969
William TateDean of Men Emeritus, University of Georgia1970
Chappelle MatthewsRepresentative, State of Georgia, District 161970
Carl VinsonFormer U.S. Representative, Districts 10 and 6 of Georgia1971
John J. Flynt, Jr.U.S. Representative, District 6 of Georgia1971
Thomas E. StricklandState Public Relations Manager, Southern Bell Telephone Company1972
Robert L. SikesU.S. Representative, District 1 of Florida1972
Fred C. DavisonPresident, University of Georgia1972
John W. DavisU.S. Representative, District 7 of Georgia1973
Philip H. Alston, Jr.Senior Partner, Law Firm of Alston, Miller & Gaines1973
E. Merton CoulterRegents’ Professor of History Emeritus, University of Georgia1974
Harry S. BaxterPartner, Law Firm of Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers, McClatchey and Regenstein1974
Augustus H. SternePresident and Board Chairman, Trust Company Bank1975
Dean RuskFormer U.S. Secretary of State1975
J. W. FanningVice President for Services, University of Georgia1976
George D. BusbeeGovernor of Georgia1976
Sam NunnU.S. Senator from Georgia1977
D. W. BrooksChairman of the Board, Gold Kist, Inc.1977
Eugene P. OdumAlumni Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology, University of Georgia1977
Glenn W. BurtonAlumni Foundation Distinguished Professor of Agronomy, University of Georgia1978
Thomas B. MurphySpeaker, Georgia House of Representatives1979
Joel EavesFormer Director of Athletics, University of Georgia1979
Max ClelandU.S. Veterans Affairs Administrator1979
Griffin BellFormer U.S. Attorney General1980
Roy V. HarrisFormer Member, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia1980
Ellis ArnallFormer Governor of Georgia1980
Robert JordanChief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia1981
Albert B. SayeRichard B. Russell Professor of Political Science Emeritus, University of Georgia1981
Vincent J. DooleyAthletic Director and Head Football Coach, University of Georgia1982
W. Tapley Bennett, Jr.U.S. Ambassador to NATO1982
Robert H. ScarboroughFormer Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard1982
Daniel H. MagillAssistant Athletic Director for Public Relations and Tennis Coach, University of Georgia1983
Tyus ButlerDirector Emeritus of Alumni Relations and Professor of Journalism, University of Georgia1983
George S. ParthemosAlumni Foundation Distinguished Teaching Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia1984
Lamar DoddRegents’ Professor of Art Emeritus and Chairman Emeritus of the Fine Arts Division, University of Georgia1984
Doug Bernard, Jr.U.S. Representative, District 10 of Georgia1985
Sidney O. Smith, Jr.Member, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia1985
James, A. DunlapSenior Partner, Law Firm of Whelchel, Dunlap & Gignilliat and Former Member, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia1986
Albert B. JonesFormer Assistant to the President and Associate Professor in the Institute of Government, University of Georgia1986
S. Truett CathyFounder and President of Chick-fil-A, Inc.1987
J. Ralph BeairdFormer Dean, School of Law, University of Georgia1987
Henry King StanfordFormer President, University of Georgia1987
George “Buddy” DardenU.S. Representative, District 7 of Georgia1988
M. Louise McBeeFormer Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Georgia1988
Lothar L. TrespProfessor of History and Director of the Honors Program, University of Georgia1989
Earl T. Leonard, Jr.Senior Vice President for Public Relations, The Coca-Cola Company1989
Henrietta M. SingletaryFormer U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development1990
Louis S. Sohn, Jr.Senior Vice President, Schapiro and Sons, Inc.1990
Irvin M. WoffordTrustee Emeritus, UGA Foundation and Former President, Georgia Alumni Society1991
Abit MasseyExecutive Director, Georgia Poultry Federation1991
Pierre HowardLieutenant Governor, State of Georgia1991
William C. Hartman, Jr.Former President, Georgia Alumni Society and Former UGA Football Coach1992
Robert BenhamJustice, Supreme Court of Georgia1992
Charlayne Hunter-GaultNational Correspondent for the MacNeill/Lehrer NewsHour1993
Charles E. Harman, Jr.President, Georgia Chamber of Commerce1993
Hamilton E. HolmesSenior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Grady Memorial Hospital1993
Charles B. KnappPresident, University of Georgia1996
C. Richard YarbroughManaging Director of Communications for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games1996
Zell MillerGovernor of Georgia1996
Sonny PerdueSenator, State of Georgia, District 181997
Paul BrounSenator, State of Georgia, District 461997
Jack KingstonU.S. Representative, District 1 of Georgia1997
Larry WalkerRepresentative, State of Georgia, District 1411998
Johnny IsaksonChairman of the State Board of Education1998
Anne SeawellRetired Director, Career Planning and Placement Office, University of Georgia1999
C. L. MoreheadFounder and Owner, Flowers, Inc.1999
Saxby ChamblissU.S. Representative, District 8 of Georgia1999
Jack BauerleHead Swimming and Diving Coach, University of Georgia2000
Joe Frank HarrisFormer Governor of Georgia2000
Otis A. Brumby, Jr.Chairman of the State Board of Education2000
Sylvia HutchinsonAderhold Professor of Reading Education, University of Georgia2001
Deen Day SmithCivic Leader and Philanthropist2001
DuBose PorterRepresentative, State of Georgia, District 1192001
Gordhan PatelVice President for Research, University of Georgia2002
Mary Virginia TerryCivic Leader and Philanthropist2002
C. Herman Terry (Posthumous Award)Civic Leader and Philanthropist2002
Norman S. FletcherChief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia2002
J. Don EdwardsJ. M. Tull Professor of Accounting Emeritus and Former Interim Dean, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia2003
Doris RamseyCivic Leader and Philanthropist2003
Bernard B. Ramsey (Posthumous Award)Retired Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch & Co., and UGA Benefactor2003
Eldridge W. McMillanMember, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia and President Emeritus of the Southern Education Foundation2003
R. Perry Sentell, Jr.Marion and W. Colquitt Carter Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia2004
Charles S. Sanford, Jr.Retired Chairman and CEO, Bankers Trust Corporation and Bankers Trust Company2004
Jane Seddon WillsonPresident, Sunnyland Farms, Inc.2004
Roy E. BarnesFormer Governor of Georgia2004
Peter AlbersheimCo-Director of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia2005
Carolyn Warnell BryanCivic Leader and Philanthropist2005
William S. (Bill) Stuckey, Jr.Businessman and Former U.S. Representative, District 8 of Georgia2005
Upshaw C. Bentley, Jr.Partner, Fortson, Bentley and Griffin, PA2006
Dr. Delmer D. DunnVice President for Instruction and Associate Provost, University of Georgia2006
Clarence ThomasAssociate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court2006
Andrew G. LandersHead Women’s Basketball Coach, University of Georgia2007
M. Smith (Smitty) GriffithPatron, Georgia Museum of Art2007
Sanford H. OrkinPresident, SHO Investment Management Company2007
Eric JohnsonSenator, State of Georgia, District 12007
Suzanne YoculanHead Women's Gymnastics Coach, University of Georgia2008
C. V. (Jim) Nalley IIIBusinessman and Civic Leader2008
Charles E. CampbellPartner, Law Firm of McKenna, Long, & Aldridge LLP2008
C. Ronald EllingtonDean Emeritus, School of Law, University of Georgia2009
Jerry R. GriffinExecutive Director, Association County Commissioners of Georgia2009
Jerry L. KeenRepresentative, State of Georgia, District 1792009
Betty Jean CraigeDirector of the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, University of Georgia2010
John W. RookerBusinessman and Civic Leader2010
Jack HillSenator, State of Georgia, District 42010
Charles S. Bullock IIIRichard B. Russell Chair in Political Science, University of Georgia2011
Donald A. PerryVice President for Public Relations, Chick-fil-A, Inc.2011
David E. RalstonSpeaker, Georgia House of Representatives2011
Michael F. AdamsPresident, University of Georgia2012
Mary Ethridge AdamsCivic Leader and UGA Supporter2012
Anne L. SweaneyProfessor and Head of the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia2012
Robert G. EdgeAttorney, Alston & Bird, Atlanta Office2012
Thomas S. LandrumVice President for Development and Alumni Relations, University of Georgia2013
William D. Young, Jr.Vice President, General Wholesale Company2013
Kessel D. Stelling, Jr.Member, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia2013
T. Rogers WadeMember, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia2014
John Phinizy SpaldingVice President for Government Affairs and Chief Privacy Officer, Cox Communications2014
Loch K. JohnsonRegents' Professor of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia2014
Julie E. CarnesJudge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, Atlanta2014
Peter J. SheddUniversity Professor of Legal Studies Emeritus, University of Georgia2015
Steve C. JonesJudge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia2015
Terry L. EnglandRepresentative, State of Georgia, District 1162015
William S. CowsertSenator, State of Georgia, District 462015
James C. CobbB. Phinizy Spalding Professor of History Emeritus, University of Georgia2016
David J. ShaferPresident Pro Tem, Georgia Senate2016
Swann SeilerManager of Corporate Communications, Georgia Power’s Coastal Region - Savannah2016
Jan L. JonesSpeaker Pro Tempore, Georgia House of Representatives2016
Christopher M. CarrCommissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development2016
David S. WilliamsAssociate Provost and Director of the Honors Program, University of Georgia2017
Victor K. WilsonVice President for Student Affairs, University of Georgia2017
Susan C. WaltmanExecutive Vice President for Legal, Regulatory and Professional Affairs and General Counsel for the Greater New York Hospital Association2017
C. Randall NuckollsPartner, Dentons US LLP, Washington, DC2017
Alan G. DarvillRegents Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia2018
Neal J. QuirkPartner, Law Office of Quirk & Quirk, LLC and Trustee, University of Georgia Foundation2018
Joe and Ann FriersonLongtime Volunteers and Supporters, University of Georgia and First Couple to Receive a Joint Blue Key Service Award2018
Michelle G. CookVice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Strategic University Initiatives, University of Georgia2018
J. Griffin DoyleRetired Vice President for Government Relations, University of Georgia2019
Libby V. MorrisZell B. Miller Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia2019
Don L. WatersChair, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia and CEO of Waters Capital Partners, LLC2019
Awards Not Given2020
Darrice L. GriffinDeputy Director of Athletics, University of Georgia2021
Robert L. IzlarRetired Founding Director of the Harley Langdale, Jr. Center for Forest Business, University of Georgia2021
Steve W. WrigleyRetired Chancellor, University System of Georgia2021
Audrey A. HaynesAssociate Professor of Political Science and a Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor (SPIA), University of Georgia2021
D. Paul Chambers, Jr.Retired AT&T North Georgia Regional Director of External Affairs2022
Yvette K. DanielsDeputy Director of Workforce Management, Georgia Department of Public Health and President of the UGA Alumni Association Board2022
William M. Ray IIJudge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia2022
Jennifer L. FrumVice President for Public Service and Outreach, University of Georgia2022
Allison C. AusbandExecutive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer, Delta Air Lines2023
Brian P. KempGovernor, State of Georgia2023
Lisa Godbey WoodJudge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia2023
Gregory H. RobinsonUGA Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of Georgia2023