This award honors those with a life-time of service to music education with a highly distinguished record of professional accomplishment.
| Year | Recipient | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | John McManus | University of Oregon (Eugene) |
| 2002 | Jane Forvilly | Elmira High School (Elmira) |
| 2004 | Randall Moore | University of Oregon (Eugene) |
| 2005 | Dave Becker | Lewis and Clark University (Portland) |
| 2006 | Gary Frame | South Salem High School (Salem) |
| 2007 | Sally McBride | Adams Elementary School (Corvallis) |
| 2008 | Chuck Bolton | Sam Barlow High School (Gresham) |
| 2009 | Ben Brooks | Reynolds High School (Gresham) |
| 2010 | Charles Creighton | Crescent Valley High School (Corvallis) |
| 2011 | Gene Burton | Dexter McCarty Middle School (Gresham) |
| 2012 | Debbie Glaze | Portland State University (Portland) |
| 2014 | Loren Wenz | George Fox University (Newberg) |
| 2016 | Dick Elliott | George Fox University (Newberg) |
| 2017 | Dr. Tina Bull | Oregon State University (Corvallis) |
| 2018 | Michael Burch-Pesses | Pacific University (Forest Grove) |
| 2020 | Nita Van Pelt | Lake Oswego School District (Lake Oswego) |
| 2021 | Steve Peter | Pacific University (Forest Grove) |
| 2022 | Patrick Vandehey | Portland State University (Portland) |
| 2023 | Scott Tuomi | Pacific University (Forest Grove) |
| 2024 | Dave Matthys | Lake Oswego High School- retired (Lake Oswego) |
| 2025 | Steven Zielke | Oregon State University (Corvallis) |
John C. McManus set the standard for service and dedication to music education in Oregon. Through a lifetime of selfless commitment to his students and colleagues, he inspired generations of learners to reach exceptional levels of performance and gain a well-rounded music education, teaching instrumental, vocal, and general music to students of all ages.
John’s leadership extended far beyond the classroom. He served the Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA) in numerous capacities, including President, Historian, Directory Editor, Retired Newsletter Editor, and Chairman of the Retired Oregon Music Educators. His influence also reached the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), where he provided leadership at both regional and national levels.
Throughout his illustrious career, John received numerous prestigious awards, including the Oregon Teacher of the Year Award in 1965, the Distinguished Music Educator Award from the Northwest Bandmasters Association in 1966, the Distinguished Service Award from the Oregon Band Directors Association (OBDA) in 1986, the OMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award in 1989, the MENC Distinguished Service Award in 1989, and the OMEA Distinguished Service Award in 1996. These accolades reflect his profound impact on music education and his unwavering dedication to the field.