Legion of Excellence Award
In 1985, the AAF Third District Board felt that participation by former leaders provided continuity and invaluable leadership training to incoming district officers and club leaders and as such, chose to recognize contributions to and involvement in Third District activities over a long period of time by dedicated individuals. It is in that spirit, along with inspiration from the first two honorees, that the Legion of Excellence Award was born.
The first awards were presented to Al Scroggins (Columbia Ad Club) and Gordon LaGarde (Ad Fed of the Roanoke Valley) at the 1985 Spring Conference in Norfolk. Both men were retiring from their professional jobs that year and were deemed worthy of special recognition in honor of their many years of distinguished service to the Third District. Subsequent awards have been presented to Jean Hodges ('92) of the Fayetteville Area Ad Federation and Allan Jenkins ('94) of the Greenville Ad Club for equally distinguished contributions.
It wasn't until 2000, at the Leadership Conference in Charleston, that the Third District Board honored it's fifth recipient of a Legion of Excellence Award. Howard Waters, from the Ad Fed of Greater Hampton Roads, was recognized for his long-time service and contributions to his local club and to Third District. In addition to winning a Silver Medal Award, Howard served as president of the Hampton Roads club, Virginia Governor (two times!) and was Governor of the Third District. All this while running his own agency (Waters Advertising) and remaining an all-around nice guy!
Then in 2006 the Third District honored its sixth recipient of the Legion of Excellence Award: Cindy BonDurant. Cindy started her affiliation with AAF as Membership Chair of the Lynchburg Ad Club in 1994. She followed with terms as Program Chair, Vice-President, President, and Ex-officio. That dedication and skill did not go unnoticed at the district level. She served the Third District in these capacities: Virginia State Governor, Treasurer, Governor-Elect, Governor, Chairman of the Board, Treasurer (for a second term). After she aced all these positions, she went on to serve on the AAF Eastern Region board, first as secretary and progressing through the seats of Vice-Chair, Chair and Past Chair.
And it didn’t stop there. In a moment of weakness we convinced Cindy to come back and serve another term as Virginia governor in 2005. Throughout these many years of service, Cindy traveled to cities throughout the District to encourage and promote new club development. Beyond her leadership positions at all levels, Cindy has been involved with the Third District NSAC program, assisting with the competition each year and speaking at numerous colleges throughout the District to encourage growth of college chapters.
In 2007 Gail Williams became the seventh recipient of the Legion of Excellence Award. Gail joined the Charlotte Ad Club in the mid 1980s, attending meetings as a regular member and serving on various committees until 1997. Her first board position came in 1997-1998 in the form of Second Vice President, which she followed by serving as President for the1998-1999 club year. She has served as an active member of AAF Charlotte’s Executive Board since becoming Past President, and currently serves as an advisor to new officers and committee chairs.
Her first interaction with the Third District was in 1998, when Gail attended her first AAF National Conference in Kansas City. It was there that she found a love for the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) and put that passion to work for the District as a competition co-chair in 1999 and 2000. Her love for the students and working with the professors continues to this day. Gail still serves as our NSAC chair, since her first year in that role in 2001.