In Depth:
Gregory Wilson (1951-2026) - contra & English dancer and musician
By year:
1984: Jude Biggs
2004: Miles McKey
2006: Karen Candlin
2009: Marty Jara, Elizabeth Douglas
2011: Patsy Bolt (dancer, musician)
2012: Vanessa Schnatmeier (1954-2012)
2015: David Thompson
2016: Don Bradley (Napa Valley contra dancer & organizer), KC Chapek, James Candlin (ECD dancer), Avis Minger (musician)
2018: Irv Kestin (1919-2018 contra dancer)
2019: Ed Burke, Ken McFarland, Susie Langdon-Kaas, Susi Ostlund, Jenny Blencowe (Foster, Butterfield) (co-founder BACDS & Mendocino dance weeks), Heather Noone (family camp)
2020: Dick Bagwell
2021: Ed Gutman, Chris Folger (dancer, editor of the Country Dancer newsletter), Chuck Ward
2022: Sid Kaas (ECD & Scottish dancer), Mickie Zekley (musician, organizer - Lark Camp & Mendocino ECD), Georgia Schwimmer, David Green (1937-2022)
2023: Alan Ackerman, Laura Rice-Hall, Leon Bumanglag (Santa Cruz area musician), Suzanne Hamilton (contra dancer), Lynn Ackler
2024: Annette Kindred (English dancer), Marlene Mahan (1949-2024; north bay contra dancer), Denis Franklin (contra dancer; harmonica player & singer), Dick McGaugh, Kirston Koths (1948-2024) - contra caller & organizer
2025: Angela Lloyd (Family Week storyteller), Jeff Cherniss (musician), Ed Silberman (contra dancer, musician & singer, instigator), Vicki Lapp (contra dancer; organizer of the Alameda Happy Hearts contra), Bill Bryg (Morris & English dancer), Bob Orser (Morris & English dancer), Debbie Berne (musician, North Oakland square dance)
2026: Gregory Wilson (1951-2026) - contra & English dancer and musician
Influential folks from outside the Bay Area:
2010: Warren Argo (1942-2010) - Seattle WA - musician, organizer, caller, sound man
2012: Bill Martin - Porland OR - square dance caller & organizer
2014: Bob McQuillen
2021: Philippe Callens, David Kaynor
2022: Tony Barrand, Pete Sutherland
2023: Fred Park
2024: Tony Parkes (square & contra caller/historian; musician), Dave Williams (Santa Barbara)
2025: John Roberts