Awards and Winners

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Several awards are presented periodically in recognition of substantial achievements and contributions, including:

Active Award
Active membership can be granted by a majority vote of the membership at the annual meeting on any member who has submitted at least three articles, papers or lectures to the annual transactions. Members that have been designated Actives are:

1976 (Charter)

• (Charter):Louis L. Williams
• Homer L. Zumwelt
• William B. Barnes
• Hugh A. Cole
• Samuel K. Zipp
• Alphone Cerza

1976: (October)

• Dr. Wayne Temple
• Raymond H. Bachman
• Oswell G. Treadway
• Dr. Steven Greenberg
• Dr. Ridell A. Kelsey
• David A. Laske
• Donald F. Messeth
• Frank F. Burrow
• Dr. William R. Deutsch
• N. Tracy Walker
• Irvin Uphoff
• Norman R. Buecker

1978:

• Dr. Walter Brown
• Moler A. Duff

1981:

• Lawrence D. Inglis
• F. Gene Ross
• Dr. Allen Katz
• Arthur F. Rigas
• Thomas F. Rigas
• James A. Ruzicka, Sr.

1986:

• J. Robert Stockner
• Mason Carruthers
• Gerald A. Edgar
• Joseph S. Crociara

1993: (June)

• Dr. Russell Ende
• Harry D. Strouse

1993: (October)

• Guy P. Vance

1994:

• Mike Losacco
• Charles Sullins
• Michael G. Wells

2001:

• Roger Heider
• Johnathan Barnes

2002:

• Martin Starr

2003:

• George Smith

2004:

• Jim Tresner

2006:

• John D. Dorner
• Paul Scheeler
• Edward I. Oliver
• Richard Lozins

2008:

• Dan Leifel

2011:

• Ira S. Gilbert
• Jim L. Grimm
• Jeffery J. Fox

2017:

• Robert H. Johnson
• Hilton Kaufman
• James M. Tome

2020:

• Scott S. Dueball
• Christopher Garlington

2021:

• Darin A. Lahners

Fellow Award
Fellows are chosen from Actives and should be active members who have published at least seven articles, papers or lectures in the annual transactions. The quality of the submissions should be considered. The Fellows are also voted on at the annual meeting by a majority vote of the membership. Members that have been designated Fellows are:

1978:

• Alphonse Cerza

1993:

• Homer L. Zumwelt
• Robert C. Barnard
• Ronald K. Blue
• Dr. Walter Brown
• Robin L. Carr
• Hugh A. Cole
• Dr. Steven Greenberg
• Wayne Temple
• James DeBates

2005:

• Kenneth W. Smith

2006:

• Johnathan Barnes

2013:

• Ira Gilbert
• Martin Patrick Starr
• Jim L. Grimm
• Edward I. Oliver
• Edward A. Rund

2017:

• Robert H. Johnson

2018:

• Hilton Kaufman

2021:

• Darin A. Lahners

Torok Award
For furthering Illinois Lodge of Research mission and goals via exemplary or long-term service to the organization. Qualifications include:

• The contribution must further the mission of the Illinois Lodge of Research.
• Recognition for long-term service to the organization.

Exemplary service for a short term, which has furthered the goals of the Illinois Lodge of Research. Membership in the Illinois Lodge of Research is not required for nomination. An Illinois Lodge of Research member must submit the nomination. Nominations are due by July 1 of each year to allow for committee consideration. It is not the intent to present an annual award, but rather a merit-based honor. The Torok award committee will determine when the award will be presented. The award, when given, will be announced at the annual meeting of the Illinois Lodge of Research. Past winners of the Torok Medal are:

1998:

•  Mike Wells

1999: 

• Janet Blue

2000: 

• Robin Carr

2004: 

• Edward A. Rund

2005: 

• Ronald K. Blue

2008: 

• Jim L. Grimm

2009: 

• John D. Dorner

2011: 

• Edward I. Oliver

2012: 

• Ira S. Gilbert

2017:

• Robert H. Johnson

2021:

• Darin A. Lahners

Cerza Award
The purpose of the medal was to honor our deceased co-founder, Alphonse Cerza. It was to honor a writer, lecturer or person who otherwise added to the prestige of the Illinois Lodge of Research. The first such medal was to be given to our other co-founder Louis L. Williams, but upon his death, the committee chose to honor another rather than giving the award posthumously. Since that time, the award has been given posthumously on at least one occasion.

The award will only be made when a suitable recipient comes to the attention of the award committee appointed by the Worshipful Master, in consultation with the Wardens, of the lodge, but not any more frequently than once per year.

Nominations, by any member should include the name in full of the nominee, his Masonic Lodge name, number and location, the nominee’s address in full, and a biographical outline of the nominee’s fraternal, vocational, literary and family information Samples of the nominee’s literary contributions, a photograph and comments which may have prompted his nomination would be greatly helpful to the committee in reaching its selection.

The Nominee ought to be one who contributes of his mind and skill commendably and effectively to the bulk of fraternal literature through books, booklets, manuals, artwork, publishing, printing, reviewing, researching, authoring, teaching, editing, distributing, indexing, compiling, cataloging, as well as serving in a librarian- type capacity.

Effort should be directed to avoid limitations and consider the varied manners in which one may be considered a contributor deserving of receiving recognition as a recipient of the Award. However, for trivial and minor contributions to be awarded the merit and esteem of the Award would be diminished. Alphonse Cerza’s personal contributions in so many literary avenues serving our fraternity are the ultimate criteria upon which the Committee ought to base its selection of recipients.

Past winners of the Cerza Medal are:

1990: 

• Homer Zumwalt

1991: 

• Robin Carr

1992: 

• Hugh A. Cole

1993: 

• Wayne Temple

1994: 

• Dr. Stephen Greenberg

1995: 

• Robert Barnard

1996:

• Dr. Walter Brown

1997: 

• Ronald K. Blue

1998: 

• Harold Spellman

1999: 

• Harry Strouse

2000: 

• Edward A. Rund

2001: 

• Michael Wells

2004: 

• John B. Hall

2011: 

• Paul A Scheeler

2012:

• Martin Patrick Starr

2023:

• Hilton Kaufman