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OKLAHOMA AAF CLUB AWARDS

Oklahoma AAF Club awards several members with special honors each year. Here is a list of our awards and past recipients.

Local Awards

  • AAF Oklahoma Member of the Year Award
  • Lowe Runkle “Distinguished Service” Award
  • Advertising Person of the Year Award
  • Distinguished Woman in Advertising Award
  • Young Advertising Professional of the Year (YAPY) Award
  • Better Business Bureau Innovation Award
  • MOSAIC Award
  • Winners will be announced at the American Advertising Awards Gala 

District 10 Awards

  • Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame
  • Educator of the Year
  • Innovation & Leadership in Advertising
  • Jeanie Ruedy Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Member of the Year
  • Mosaic Awards
  • Sterling Service

National Awards

CRITERIA AND PAST RECIPIENTS

AAF Oklahoma Member of the Year

Ad Club Member of the Year Award Criteria

This award goes to a member who has stepped up in big ways the past year for AAF Oklahoma. A panel of judges from our local club selects the “Ad Club Member of the Year.” They use the following criteria when making their selections:

  • Membership: The individual must be a standing member of AAF Oklahoma.
  • Involvement: The recipient must be involved in the club as either a board member, past president, sponsor, or volunteer.
  • Contributions: The individual must have made significant contributions to advancing AAF Oklahoma.

Past Member of the Year Award Winners

2023 Kathy Keffer-Sharpe
2022 Ray Claxton

2021 Joel Richardson
2020 Hannah Landry
2019 Dustin Schmidt
2018 Kristin McNeese
2017 Kelley Gann

2016 Greta Anglin
2015 Mark Hill
2014 Walt Disney
2013 Monica Helms
2012 Brian Winkeler
2011 Kim Lowe
2010 Melissa Richey
2009 Cameron Dawson
2008 David Salyer
2007 Susan Vermillion
2006 Natalie Geis/Ty Smith
2005 Kim and Jamie Lowe
2004 Kristin McNeese
2003 Susan Harkness
2002 Brian Wall
2001 Tom Searls
2000 Randy Kemp
1999 Kelly Adams
1998 Jeanie Rudy
1997 Marsha Ramee
1996 Lisa Moore
1995 Bill Allen
1994 Roy Kelsey
1993 Kathy Keffer-Sharpe
1992 Rae Lynn Oliver
1991 Meegan McMillen
1990 Skip McKinstry
1989 Ralph Robinson
1988 Rose O’Riordan/Galen Nichols
1987 Don Webb
1986 Don Webb
1985 Gary Crawford
1984 Jeanie Ruedy
1983 Beth Alspaugh
1982 Jeanie Ruedy

Lowe Runkle Distinguished Service Award

Lowe Runkle Distinguished Service Award

The Lowe Runkle Distinguished Service Award is the oldest AAF Oklahoma award. First presented in 1950, the Lowe Runkle Award is focused on great public service work. Its namesake, Lowe Runkle, was an Oklahoma advertising pioneer who placed great value on public service, both personally and professionally.

A panel of judges from our club selects the Lowe Runkle Distinguished Service honoree. They use the following criteria when making their selections:

  • An Oklahoma company, nonprofit, agency, or individual.
  • Has made a positive impact through public service initiatives or public service advertising.
  • Shows a dedication to human or social welfare.

Past Lowe Runkle Distinguished Service Award Winners

2024 Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
2023 OKC Thunder
2021 Ghost, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
2020 Insight Creative Group, Pivot
2019 VI Marketing & Branding, Oklahoma Highway Safety Office
2017-2018 Staplegun, Catholic Charities Donor Video
2016 VI Marketing & Branding, Shape Your Future Campaign

2015 Staplegun, Allied Arts 2016 Campaign
2014 Saxum, YMCA “Domestic Abuse” Campaign
2013 The Dream Team, 2012 ADDY’s
2012 Staplegun for Oklahoma Education Association for “Stand Up For Public Education”
2011 VI Marketing and Branding, Tobacco Stops with Me Campaign
2010 Jordan Associates, Central Oklahoma Humane Society, “Adopt”
2009 Saxum Public Relations, Burbridge Foundation “Crystal Darkness Program”
2008 Oklahoma Broadcasters Association Public Service Campaign
2007 Tucker McHugh and Greg Slavonic for the USS Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor
2006 Lowe Runkle, Oklahoma Blood Institute “Whose Life Can You Save Today?”
2005 KFOR and KTOK, Salvation Army “Warmth for Winter”
2004 United Way “This is Real Life”
2003 JordanAssociates,OklahomaDHS,“ChildAbuse&NeglectPrevention”Campaign
2002 New West Group, Oklahoma City Beautiful, “Squeal On A Pig” Campaign
2001 The Robinson Group, Oklahoma City Police Department “Life or Meth” Campaign
2000 Smith&Associates,“PrayAnytime”Campaign
1999 Donrey Outdoor, “Youth Cornerstone’s Character First” Public Service Campaign
1998 Smicklas Chevrolet “Friends For Life” Campaign
1997 City Rescue Mission/Verizon Evers, Awareness Campaign
1995 Harold’s, Oklahoma City Beautiful, Lake Hefner Streak
1994 Oklahoma City Zoo, The Great EscApe
1993 Oklahoma City Arts Council, Festival of the Arts
1992 Oklahoma Department of Health, “Due by Two” Immunization Project
1991 Oak Tree Communications, Campaign for OKC Beautiful
1990 Ed Birchall, HO HO the Clown
1989 Department of Transportation, Adopt A Highway Program
1988 Larry Smith, Lookin’ Good OKC Program
1987 Oklahoma City Zoo/Lee Allan Smith, Aquaticus Project
1986 PepsiCola/JimWilliston,ChildI.D.Program
1985 Linda Moore, Statue of Liberty “Miss Liberty” Campaign
1984 Ed Sossen, Genesis House
1983 Oklahoma Educational TV Authority, Reach Out Drug Abuse Program
1982 Ben West, RotArt Etc. II Charity Auction, Chairman
1981 C.H. Dunn, Contributions to The Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America
1980 KOFM Radio, Sponsorship of “Angel Dust”
1976 Dean McGee, Downtown Beautification Project, Kerr Park
1974 Liberty National Bank and Trust Company, Let’s Talk Business Campaign
1970 Oklahoma City Association of Broadcasters, July 4, 1969, Stars & Stripes Show
1967 Ken Kay, Leadership in Advertising on the District Level
1966 Harold Deadman, Preparation of the Booklet “Basic Advertising Standards,
Principles of Advertising” for Better Business Bureau
1965 Bill Baker, High School Dropout Campaign of the Public Service Committee
1964 RayAckerman,UnitedAppealCampaign
1963 Al Fiegel, Advertising Week Program
1961 Lee Allan Smith, “Fly The Flag Week” Promotion
1960 Lynn Martin, Promoting Advertising Educationally to over 40 Universities & Schools
1959 Oklahoma Press Association, Promoting Advertising on the Legislative Level
1958 Oklahoma Today Magazine, Promotion of the State of Oklahoma
1957 Paul Hoheisel, Contribution of Advertising and Civic Leadership
1956 Norman Hall, “600,000 in 60” Oklahoma City Population Promotional Campaign
1955 Howard Neuman, “That More May Live Longer” Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Program
1954 Oklahoma City Downtown Association, Downtown Oklahoma City Promotion
1952 Lowe Runkle, Organizing the Public Relations of the United Appeal campaign
1951 Jim Willis, AFA “The Magic Key” Advertising Film had over 200 Showings Statewide
1950 Norman Hall, Oklahoma Safety Council’s Safety

Advertising Person of the Year Award

Advertising Person of the Year Award Criteria

This award goes to someone in advertising that’s made waves in our industry this past year. A panel of judges from our local club selects the “Advertising Person of the Year” award winner. They use the following criteria when making their selections:

  • Extraordinary Accomplishments: During the past year, the recipient must have achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media, or advertising service.
  • Forward-thinking: The recipient must have shown a high degree of innovation in their field.
  • Contributions to the General Advancement of Advertising:The recipient must have worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.

Past Advertising Person of the Year Award Winners

2024 Mayor David Holt
2023 Casey Twenter
2021 Justin Lawrence
2020 Dan Martel
2019 Darin Dugan
2017 – 2018 Brian Byrnes
2016 Tony Tyler

2015 Amy Johnson & Sandy Martin
2014 Jonathon Fowler
2011 Brian Winkeler
2010 Mayor Mick Cornett
2009 Tara Street
2006 Chad Stalcup
2005 Jeffri-Lynn Dyer
2004 Wes Milburn
2002 Ralph Salierno
2001 John Santore
2000 Robbie Robertson
1999 Steve Garman
1998 Roy Kelsey
1997 Steve Sturges
1994 Skip McKinstry
1993 Angus McQueen
1990 Ted D’Andriole
1989 Steve Haneborg
1987 Jeanette Gamba
1986 Lee Allan Smith
1984 Bob Stacy*
1983 Ken Arbuckle
1982 Laura Snyder
1981 Patricia Cox Hampton
1980 Dr. Hall Duncan
1976 Nora Owens
1973 Mamie Lewis
1972 Pattie Meis
1971 Jeanie Ruedy

Distinguished Woman in Advertising

Distinguished Woman in Advertising Award Criteria:

This award goes to a woman who deserves recognition for the lasting impact she’s making in the advertising, marketing, media or communications profession. A panel of judges from our club selects the Distinguished Woman in Advertising honoree. They use the following criteria when making their selections:

  • Leadership: 
The recipient must have displayed leadership in her field.
  • Expertise: 
The recipient must have achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media, public relations, communications, or advertising service.
  • Contributions to the Advancement of Advertising: The recipient must have worked to raise the standards of the advertising profession.
  • Contributions to the Community: The recipient should be someone who has been active in professional or civic groups dedicated to human or social welfare.

Created in Honor of Jeanie Ruedy

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Jeanie Ruedy was a true pioneer. She joined the Oklahoma City Advertising Club in 1963 — where she served 18 years on the Board of Directors. She created and personally funded the Jeanie Ruedy Commercial Art/Graphic Design Scholarship. Served as a strong leader as Governor of the Tenth District of the American Advertising Federation.

Jeanie was a trailblazer for women in our industry and an inspiration to us in AAF Oklahoma City Ad Club. She was the first female president of our club and first female “Advertising Person of the Year.” We will miss her devotion to the American Advertising Federation and will always remember her.

Past Distinguished Woman in Advertising Award Winners

2024 Hannah Landry
2023 Shelly Sanderson
2021 Greta Anglin
2020 Karen Wicker
2019 Kim Holzer
2018 Jeanie Ruedy

Young Advertising Professional of the Year (YAPY) Award

YAPY Award Criteria

The Young Advertising Professional of the Year award (YAPY) recognizes the young men and women who make extraordinary contributions to the Oklahoma advertising and communications industry. This award is given at the annual Oklahoma American Advertising Awards in February as a way to recognize this individual’s hard work over the past year and their potential to make future contributions in his or her career. To be nominated for this award, nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Be between 21-35 years of age
  • Living and working in central Oklahoma
  • Employed in an advertising, marketing, or communications-related field
  • Contributed to the advancement of the advertising industry in Oklahoma City

Extra consideration is also given to nominees involved in an industry-related organization.

Past YAPY Award Winners

2024 Micah Moore
2023 Hannah Landry
2022 Matt Farley
2021 Joel Richardson
2020 Sarah Elizabeth Hoffman
2019 Chelsey McNight
2018 Kelley Ganne
2017 Bobbie Earles

2016 Erick Worrell
2015 Justin Claborn
2014 Armand McCoy
2013 Monica Helms Young
2012 Greta Puckett Anglin
2011 Jill Brown Delozier
2010 James Harber

MOSAIC Award

MOSAIC Award Criteria

The  Mosaic Award recognizes  an individual and/or organization within Oklahoma whose commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through their creative work and organization-wide initiatives.

Past MOSAIC Award Winners

2024 Curbside Chronicle
2023 Wakeah Vigil
2021 Naoma Serna-Zahn
2020 Armand McCoy
2019 Chris Hudson

Better Business Bureau Innovation Award

Better Business Bureau Innovation Award Criteria

Information Coming Soon

Better Business Bureau Innovation Award Winners

2021 Homes by Tabor
2020 Sherpa Moving + Storage

Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame Award

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The Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is an elite group of individuals who have made tremendous contributions to advertising. These individuals have distinguished themselves among their peers in their careers, their contributions to advertising, and in their volunteerism.

The long-standing reputations of people like these are something we should all strive to achieve. The talent and dedication demonstrated by these people leaves no doubt as to the reasons they deserve this unique recognition. Their names are known by those throughout the Tenth District (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas). They have spent a lifetime earning respect and recognition, and it’s a privilege to honor them.

2018 SOUTHWEST ADVERTISING HALL OF FAME

Click Here for Nomination Guidelines and Nominee Form

To view the Southwest Hall of Fame Main Website, click here.

Nominations Deadline
TBD

How to Submit Nominees
Nominations can be mailed to:

AAF Tenth District, Attn: Kevin Dobbs, 16080 Gardendale Rd., Gardendale, TX 79758.

Or by email to:
halloffame@aaf10.org or to dobbsprt@nts-online.net.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the well being of advertising in Oklahoma. We are the unifying voice of advertising in our state. Our membership encourages professional development, networking opportunities, a forum for idea exchange, and the recognition of excellence.