Medallion of Merit
The Medallion of Merit is the highest honor given by Wake Forest and is presented annually for outstanding achievement and distinguished contribution to the University. Previous recipients include presidents of the University, trustees, benefactors and retired faculty and administrators.
Learn more about the history of the Medallion of Merit.
Nominations
Nominations for the Medallion of Merit are accepted on an ongoing basis from members of the Wake Forest community. An invitation to be honored will be extended each year, and the honoree will be recognized at the annual Founders Day service.
2024
Dianne Dailey
Claudia Thomas Kairoff
2023
J. Reid Morgan (’75, JD ’79)
2022
President Emeritus Nathan O. Hatch (LHD ’21)
2021
Donna Ann Boswell (’72, MA ’74)
2020
Winston Louis “Lou” Bissette Jr. (’65, P ’94, P ’97)
Lawrence D. “Larry” Hopkins (’72, MD ’77, P ’12, P ’15)
2019
Charles P. Rose, Jr.
Sandra Combs Boyette (MBA ’95)
2018
Michael “Mike” Gerald Ford
2017
2016
James T. Williams, Jr (’62, JD ’66)
Jenny Robinson Puckett (’71)
2015
Dr. Louis C. Argenta
Michael J. Morykwas
2014
Dr. Margaret Supplee Smith
Previous Medallion of Merit Honorees
| 2013 | Rhoda Bryan Billings (JD ’66), Professor, School of Law, 1973-2003 |
| 2012 | L. Glenn Orr, Jr., Chair, Board of Trustees and Benefactor |
| 2011 | K. Wayne Smith (’60), Life Trustee and Benefactor |
| 2010 | Barbara Babcock Millhouse (LHD ’88), founding president of Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Wake Forest trustee |
| 2009 | Dr. Richard H. Dean, First President, Wake Forest University Health Sciences Marvin D. Gentry (’57), First Chair, Wake Forest University Health Sciences Board of Directors |
| 2008 | Murray C. Greason (’59, JD ’62), Chair, Board of Trustees |
| 2007 | Edgar D. “Ed” Christman (’50, JD ’53), Chaplain, 1956-2003 |
| 2006 | Thomas K. Hearn Jr., 12th President, 1983-2005 T. Eugene Worrell (’40), Trustee and Benefactor |
| 2005 | Timothy Pennell (’55, MD ’60), Professor of Surgery, School of Medicine, 1966-2002 Willis E. “Doc” Murphrey (’52, JD ’57), Old Campus Personality |
| 2004 | Edwin G. Wilson (’43), Provost and Professor of English, 1951-2002 |
| 2003 | Leon H. Corbett Jr. (’59, JD ’61), Vice President and Counsel, 1968-2002 |
| 2002 | C. Douglas Maynard (’55, MD ’59), Chair, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, 1966-2003 |
| 2001 | Victor I. Flow Jr. (’52), Trustee and Benefactor |
| 2000 | Richard Janeway, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, 1966-1997 |
| 1999 | Mary Ann Taylor (’56, MD ’60), Director, Student Health Service, 1961-1991 |
| 1998 | Henry S. Stroupe (’35, MA ’37), Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of History, 1937-1984 |
| 1997 | Ivey C. Gentry, Professor of Mathematics, 1949-1989 |
| 1996 | Lula M. “Lu” Leake, Associate Vice President and Dean of Women, 1964-1997 Mark H. Reece (’49), Dean of Students and Dean of Men, 1956-1988 |
| 1995 | Thomas E. Mullen, Dean of the College and Professor of History, 1957-2000 |
| 1994 | Germaine Bree, Kenan Professor of Humanities, 1973-1985 |
| 1993 | Eugene Hooks (’50), Director of Athletics, 1956-1992 |
| 1992 | Elizabeth Phillips, Professor of English, 1957-1989 |
| 1991 | Weston P. Hatfield (’41), Chairman, Board of Trustees |
| 1990 | Eben Alexander, Professor of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, 1949-2004 |
| 1989 | Harold M. Barrow, Chair of Physical Education, 1948-1977 |
| 1988 | Richard T. Myers, Chair, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, 1950-2000 |
| 1987 | Russell H. Brantley Jr. (’45), Director of Communications, 1953-1987 |
| 1986 | D. Wayne Calloway (’59), Chairman, Board of Trustees |
| 1985 | Robert A. Dyer, Professor of Religion, 1956-1983 |
| 1984 | James Ralph Scales, 11th President, 1967-1983 Harold W. Tribble, 10th President, 1950-1967 |
| 1983 | Manson Meads, Vice President for Health Affairs, 1947-2001 |
| 1982 | D.A. Brown, Professor of English, 1941-1973 |
| 1981 | Owen F. Herring (’13, MA ’14), Professor of Religion, 1946-1963 |
| 1980 | Nancy Susan Reynolds, Benefactor James W. Mason (JD ’38), Chairman, Board of Trustees |
| 1979 | Grady S. Patterson (’24), Registrar, 1924-1972 A.C. Reid, Professor of Philosophy, 1920-1965 |
| 1978 | Melvin Q. Layton (’47), Superintendent of Grounds, 1951-1977 Clark Vincent, Professor of Medical Sociology, School of Medicine, 1964-1978 |
| 1977 | Carroll W. Weathers (’22, JD ’23), Dean and Professor of Law, 1950-1972 |
| 1976 | Egbert L. Davis Jr. (’33), Chairman, Board of Trustees Charles M. Allen (’39, MA ’41), Professor of Biology, 1941-1989 |
| 1975 | H. Broadus Jones (’10), Professor of English, 1924-1959 |
| 1974 | Edgar Estes Folk (’21), Professor of English, 1936-1967 |
| 1973 | Lois Johnson, Dean of Women, 1942-1962 Jasper L. Memory(’21), Professor of Education, 1929-1971 |
| 1972 | J. Allen Easley (’43), Professor of Religion, 1938-1963 |
| 1971 | Clara Carswell, Benefactor |
| 1970 | Harold T. P. Hayes (’48), Editor, Esquire magazine |
| 1969 | Irving Carlyle, President, Board of Trustees |
| 1968 | Camillo Artom, Professor of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, 1939-1961 |