Honorary Lifetime Member Award

The CBA was not even a year old when the Honorary Lifetime Member Award was established and awarded to Vern Williams and Ray Park on September 21, 1975 “for outstanding contribution[s] to the Bluegrass community. Chosen for this award for playing and promoting Bluegrass music in California when few others were doing so and providing incentive and leadership for new groups as they have formed.” It was awarded occasionally until 2002; since then it has been conferred each year on California musicians and significant volunteers who have had a major impact.

2022

Dave Gooding
Frank Wakefield

2021

Deb Livermore
Herb Pedersen
Joe Weed

2020

Irene Evans
Neale Evans
Neil Rosenberg

2019

Tim Edes
Steve Hogle
Tom Rozum

2018

Bill Downs
Faye Downs
Steve Pottier

2017

Tom Bekeny

2016

Darby Brandli
Alan Hendricks

2015

Diana Donnelly
Montie Elston
John Reischman

2014

Larry Kuhn
Frank Solivan, Sr

2013

Mike Tatar
Yvonne Tatar
Peter Thompson

2012

Roger Siminoff

2011

Mark Hogan
Beth Weil

2010

Larry Cohea
Bob Thomas

2009

JD Rhynes
Del Williams

2008

Rick Cornish
Tom Diamant

2007

Jack Tuttle

2006

Don Denison
Suzanne Denison
John Green

2005

John Murphy

2004

Violet Lankford
Paul Shelasky

2003

Kenny Hall
Keith Little

2002

F Warren Hellman
Rick Shubb

2001

Kathy Kallick
Al Knoth

2000

Leroy McNees

1997

Ray Edlund

1996

Kathy Kirkpatrick

1993

Burney Garelick

1992

Laurie Lewis

1990

Shelby Freeman
Ed Neff

1989

Jack Sadler
Butch Waller

1987

Carl Pagter

1980

Jake Quesenberry

1978

Bill White

1975

Ray Park
Vern Williams

Bill and Faye Downs Super Volunteer Award

The Bill and Faye Downs Super Volunteer Award was first awarded in 2000 to recognize the extraordinary volunteerism of Bill and Faye Downs. Since 2012 it has been awarded each year to acknowledge the efforts of those members of the CBA who have made an extraordinary contribution as volunteers over an extended period of time to our proudly all-volunteer organization.

2022

John and Loretta Hettinger
Jennifer Kitchen

2021

Deb Livermore
PJ Thorpe
Alberto Campos
Alex Cameron

2020

Jill Cruey
Lynn Quinones

2019

David Brace
Larry Carlin

2018

Bob Brown
Jim Ingram
Mike McGar

2017

John Adams
Charlene Simms
Slim Simms

2016

Steven de Haas
Gary Mansperger

2015

Paul Brewer
Loland Ellis
Les Massman

2014

Pat Bockover
Tom Bockover
Deb Livermore

2013

Bob McCoy
Dorothy McCoy
Don Pemberton
Judy Pemberton

2012

Steve Hogle

2000

Faye Downs
Bill Downs

Volunteer of the Year Award

The Volunteer of the Year Award was first awarded in 2022 to recognize a volunteer who has made a strong contribution over the past year. One award is given each year to volunteers who have:

  • made a unique/impactful contribution
  • Contributed special skills to a timely situation
  • Created an ongoing project or upgraded an existing program or event
  • Added a spark that inspired or expanded community involvement
  • Exceeded the expected volunteer role

2022

Danny Clark