The Friend of Automotive History award recognizes a person who has made a profound individual contribution to the automotive history community and the historical record. The Award Panel may select more than one individual for a given year or may not select any individual for a given year.
Nominations should be emailed to sahawards@gmail.com by April 15, 2024.
Questions regarding the Friend of Automotive History Award should be directed to the Award Panel Chair, Andy Beckman
Donald Davidson
Richard Lentinello
Peter Mullin
Nicola Bulgari
Jeff Godshall (deceased 2019)
Doug Nye
Robert R. Ebert
Susan S. Davis
Jack C. Miller (deceased 2020) acceptance video with Jack Miller
James Douglas Muir “Jay” Leno
Frederick A. Simeone (deceased 2022)
Joseph S. Freeman
Kit Foster
Miles C. Collier
G. Marshall Naul (deceased 2015)
Thomas H. Brownell (deceased 2009)
Malcolm Jeal (deceased 2016)
Bobbie’dine Rodda (deceased 2017)
Leroy D. Cole
Maurice D. Hendry
Z. Taylor Vinson (deceased 2009)
Richard M. Langworth
Karl E. Ludvigsen
John Martin Smith (deceased 2012)
Paul Berliet (deceased 2012)
Thomas E. Warth
David W. Brownell (deceased 2021)
Michael Worthington-Williams MBE (deceased 2021)
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (deceased 2015)
L. Scott Bailey (deceased 2012)
Chester L. Krause (deceased 2016)
Walter O. MacIlvain (deceased 1998)
Frederick D. Roe (deceased 2009)
John A. Conde (deceased 2008)
David L. Lewis
Michael Lamm
Ralph Dunwoodie (deceased 2003)
Keith Marvin (deceased 2009)
Peter Helck (deceased 1988)
Beverly Rae Kimes (deceased 2008)
Richard and Grace Brigham (Richard deceased July 1995, Grace 2009)
Charles L. Betts, Jr. (deceased 1997)
Henry Austin Clark, Jr. (deceased 1991)
Prior to the Friends of Automotive History Award, these individuals were recognized with Honorary Memberships:
George Risley of the Detroit Public Library
Jerry Gebby of the Detroit Public Library
Duesenberg historian Raymond Wolfe
Automotive artist Peter Helck
Walter Spencer Huffman, who saved the personal papers of Elwood Haynes
Mary Cattie of the Automotive History Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Strother MacMinn of the Art Center College of Design
William Harrah of the Harrah Museum
Roy Chapin, Jr. of American Motors
John R. Bond of Road & Track
Owen Bombard of the Ford Motor Company