Award of Merit
Created in 1947, the ISBA Award of Merit is the highest honor the association bestows upon an individual. The award recognizes a selfless dedication to the legal profession, the bar association, and service to their communities. The ISBA Award of Merit Committee presents award nominees to be voted upon by the Board of Governors at the spring quarterly meeting. The Award of Merit is presented in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the ISBA in June of each year.
Past Award of Merit recipients:
- 1973 – Howard Remley, Anamosa
- 1974 – S. David Peshkin, Des Moines
- 1975 – John Neiman, Des Moines
- 1976 – E. Marshall Thomas, Dubuque
- 1977 – Arley Wilson, Marshalltown
- 1978 – John Raife, Des Moines and C. Edwin Moore, Des Moines
- 1979 – LeRoy Redfern, Cedar Falls
- 1980 – Charles Harris, Des Moines
- 1981 – Alfred Pabst, Albia
- 1982 – Rolland Grefe, Des Moines
- 1983 – F. James Bradley, Cedar Rapids
1984 – Orville Bloethe, Victor - 1985 – Philip Willson, Council Bluffs
- 1986 – John McClintock, Des Moines
- 1987 – Allen Brennecke, Marshalltown
- 1988 – Robert Van Vooren, Davenport
- 1989 – William Engelbrecht, Waverly
- 1990 – Russell Buchanan, Algona
- 1991 – Robert Reimer, Denison
- 1992 – Wiley Mayne, Sioux City
- 1993 – Richard Zellhoefer, Waterloo
- 1994 – Dick Schlegel, Ottumwa
- 1995 – V. Jean Bartley, Iowa City
- 1996 – Marvin Berenstein, Sioux City
- 1997 – Jay Honohan, Iowa City
- 1998 – Hedo Zacherle, Des Moines
- 1999 – David L. Brown, Des Moines
- 2000 – H. Richard Smith, Des Moines
- 2001 – Robert Downer, Iowa City
- 2002 – David Funkhouser, Mason City
- 2003 – Thomas Cahill, Nevada
- 2004 – Mary Lynn Neuhaus, Dubuque
- 2005 – Carroll Reasoner, Cedar Rapids
- 2006 – John Shors, Des Moines
- 2007 – James Carney, Des Moines
- 2008 – Bruce Graves, Des Moines
- 2009 – Ed Hansell, Des Moines
- 2010 – Paul Tyler, Des Moines
- 2011 – William Scherle, Des Moines
- 2012 – Marion Beatty, Decorah
- 2013 – Dan Moore, Sioux City
- 2014 – Nick Critelli, Des Moines
- 2015 – Dwight James, Des Moines
- 2016 – JC Salvo, Harlan
- 2017 – Guy Cook, Des Moines
- 2018 – Cynthia Moser, Sioux City
- 2019 – Philip Garland, Garner
- 2020 – Hon. Mark Cady, Des Moines
- 2021 – Jane Lorentzen, Des Moines
- 2022 – A. David Bibler, Algona
- 2023 – Alan Olson, West Des Moines
- 2024 – Hon. Elisabeth S. Reynoldson, Osceola
- 2025 –Willard L. (Bill) Boyd III, Des Moines
- 2026 – Deborah Petersen, Council Bluffs
