Haggard Award

George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award

The George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award is an annual honor presented by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association recognizing an electric cooperative statewide consumer publication that best presents “lucid, forthright contributions to electric cooperative objectives.” Named for George W. Haggard, first editor of the Texas statewide publication, who was killed in a plane crash in 1951.

Judging Guidelines and Criteria

Deadline: Always the first week of December

Haggard Memorial Journalism Award — List of Winners

  • 2023 – Shannon Brock, Editor, Kentucky Living
  • 2022 – Jeff McCallister, Editor, Ohio Cooperative Living
  • 2021 – Jim McCarty, Editor, Rural Missouri
  • 2020 – Scott Gates, Editor, and Warren Kessler, Publications Director, Carolina Country
  • 2019 – Jim McCarty, Editor, Rural Missouri
  • 2018 – Jeff McCallister, Editor, Ohio Cooperative Living
  • 2017 – Anna Politano, Editor, Oklahoma Living
  • 2016 – Anna Politano, Editor, Oklahoma Living
  • 2015 – Curtis Condon, Editor, Ruralite (AK, CA, ID, NV, OR, WA)
  • 2014 – Paul Wesslund, Editor, Kentucky Living
  • 2013 – Larry Freeze, Editor, Kansas Country Living
  • 2012 – Steve Oden/Rich Warren/John Howley, Director of Communications/Mgr. Editor/Communications Mgr. – Country Living (Ohio)
  • 2011 – Peter A. Fitzgerald, Editor – Penn Lines (Pennsylvania)
  • 2010 – Michael E.C. Gery, Editor – Carolina Country
  • 2009 – Paul Wesslund, Editor – Kentucky Living
  • 2008 – Mona Neeley, Editor – Colorado Country Life
  • 2007 – Kaye Northcott, Editor – Texas Co-op Power
  • 2006 – Michael E.C. Gery, Editor – Carolina Country
  • 2005 – Kent Brick, Editor – North Dakota Living
  • 2004 – Darryl Gates, Editor – Alabama Living
  • 2003 – Jim McCarty, Editor – Rural Missouri
  • 2002 – Perry Baird, Editor – Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
  • 2001 – Perry A. Stambaugh, Editor – Penn Lines (Pennsylvania)
  • 2000 – Emily B. Schilling/Richard Biever – Electric Consumer (Indiana)
  • 1999 – Peg Champion/Joe Holley, Editor – Texas Co-op Power
  • 1998 – Kent Brick, Editor – North Dakota REC/RTC Magazine
  • 1997 – Robert Dickleman, Editor – Iowa REC News
  • 1996 – Richard Biever, Editor – Indiana Electric Consumer
  • 1995 – Jody Garlock, Editor – Iowa REC News