JAHSA Awards

The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association recognizes its members for exceptional contributions to the Association’s activities and mission of promoting safety and health for the mining community.

  • William “Bill” Hoover Lifetime Achievement Award – First granted in 1995, this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding achievements in promoting health and safety in the mining industry and for unselfish devotion to the Holmes Safety Association. This award is named Bill Hoover, a former Association Secretary who was responsible for a period of exceptional revitalization and innovation.
  • Ival Van Horne Award – FIrst granted in 1993, this award recognizes contributions to the Association and promoting health and safety throughout the mining industry on behalf of the Four Corners and Powder River Basin District Councils.
  • Man and Woman of the Year – Both branches of the JAHSA (Holmes Safety Association and Holmes Mine Rescue Association) select a man and a woman to recognize each year for their service and contributions.

Recipients of each Association award are listed below by year and location of the conference where the award was presented.

2023 – San Antonio, Texas

  • Hoover – Lee Graham
  • Van Horne – Garland Moffett
  • HSA Man of the Year – Steve Sandbrook
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Cassandra Hoebbel
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Karen Miller

2021 – Clearwater Beach, Florida

  • Hoover – Ben Hart
  • Van Horne – Carla Gustafson
  • HSA Man of the Year – John Osika
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Karen Miller
  • HMRA Man of the Year – Kenny Murray
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Cindy Phillips

2019 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Hoover – Judy Tate
  • Van Horne – Woody Wickersheim
  • HSA Man of the Year – Robert Weston
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Carla Gustafson
  • HMRA Man of the Year – William York-Feirn
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Linda Chasko

2018 – Denver, Colorado

  • Hoover – Frank Rabago
  • Van Horne – William York-Feirn
  • HSA Man of the Year – Glen Poe
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Kerbi Jacobson
  • HMRA Man of the Year – Sammy Linville
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Suzanne Disanza Drake

2017 – Traverse City, Michigan

  • Hoover – Mark Zinzer
  • Van Horne – Robert Randolph
  • HSA Man of the Year – Woody Wickersheim
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Carrie McLaughlin
  • HMRA Man of the Year – Jim Vicini
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Harriet Blythe

2016 – Branson, Missouri

  • Hoover – Sunni Christon
  • Van Horne – Joseph Sbaffoni
  • HSA Man of the Year – Ben Hart
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Michele Curran
  • HMRA Man of the Year – Kent Armstrong
  • HMRA Woman of the Year – Diane Watson

2015 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Hoover – Chrystal Dye
  • Van Horne – Robert Weston
  • HSA Man of the Year – Jeffery Kravitz
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Angel Scribe

2014 – Austin, Texas

  • Hoover – Sam Scribe
  • Van Horne – Sunni Christon
  • HSA Man of the Year – William Gerringer
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Valerie Cantrell

2013 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Hoover – William (Cotton) Jarrell
  • Van Horne – John Riggi
  • HSA Man of the Year –
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Chrystal Dye

2012 – Detroit, Michigan

  • Hoover – Robert Randolph
  • Van Horne – Mark Zinser
  • HSA Man of the Year – Sam Scribe
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sharon Brown

2011 – San Antonio, Texas

  • Hoover – Patrick Hurley
  • Van Horne – Silvia Ortiz
  • HSA Man of the Year – Alan Vozel
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sandy Grant

2010 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Hoover – Jon Montgomery
  • Van Horne – Ben Hart
  • HSA Man of the Year – Mark Zinser
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Carol Helderman

2009 – Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Hoover – D.J. Johnson
  • Van Horne – Al Simonson
  • HSA Man of the Year – Larry Harshbarger
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Ruth Messel

2008 – Lake George, New York

  • Hoover – Bob Novello
  • Van Horne – William (Cotton) Jarrell
  • HSA Man of the Year – Scott McKenna
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sunni Christon

2007 – San Diego, California

  • Hoover – Al Simonson
  • Van Horne –
  • HSA Man of the Year – Dan Paine
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sylvia Ortiz

2006 – Clearwater Beach, Florida

  • Hoover – Don Conrad
  • Van Horne – Frances Petty
  • HSA Man of the Year – Tom Joyce
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sharon Cook

2005 – St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Hoover – Jack Kuzar
  • Van Horne –
  • HSA Man of the Year – Greg Oster
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Belinda Parsons

2004 – Oglebay Park, West Virginia

  • Hoover – Bill Vance
  • Van Horne – Laman Lankford
  • HSA Man of the Year – Doug Conaway
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Cindy Shumiloff

2003 – Reno, Nevada

  • Hoover – Mary Bauer
  • Van Horne – Judy Tate
  • HSA Man of the Year – Rod Breland
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Diane Fionda

2002 – Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Hoover – Vern Demich
  • Van Horne –
  • HSA Man of the Year – Frank Linkous
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Rae Johnson

2001 – San Antonio, Texas

  • Hoover – Alan Vozel
  • Van Horne – Doyle Fink
  • HSA Man of the Year – Glenn Hood
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Frances Petty

2000 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Hoover – Larry Frisbie
  • Van Horne –
  • HSA Man of the Year – Joseph Sbaffoni
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Michele Bernard

1999 – St. Louis, Missouri

  • Hoover – Leland Payne
  • Van Horne –
  • HSA Man of the Year – Steve Dunn
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Tanya Cox

1998 – Tampa, Florida

  • Hoover – Gary Moore
  • Van Horne – John (Sam) Vancil
  • HSA Man of the Year – Robert Randolph
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Mary Bauer

1997 – Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Hoover – John (Sam) Vancil
  • Van Horne – Vern Demich
  • HSA Man of the Year – H.L. Boling
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Bonita Stocks

1996 – Columbus, Ohio

  • Hoover – Vern Demich Sr.
  • Van Horne – William Vance
  • HSA Man of the Year – Jim Myer
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Cheryl Ann Suzio

1995 – St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Hoover – Harry Tuggle – First recipient
  • Van Horne – Robert A. Glatter
  • HSA Man of the Year – Al Simonson
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Sandy Neal

1994 – Lexington, Kentucky

  • Van Horne – Vern Demich
  • HSA Man of the Year – Alex Bacho
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Penny Traver

1993 – San Antonio, Texas

  • Van Horne – Ron Keaton – First recipient
  • HSA Man of the Year – Gary Moore
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Judy Tate

1992 – Poconos, Pennsylvania

  • HSA Man of the Year – Jon Montgomery
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Donna Schorr

1991 – Pipestem, West Virginia

  • HSA Man of the Year – Leland Payne
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Jan Irvin

1990 – Phoenix, Arizona

  • HSA Man of the Year – Billy Damron
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Jean McNece

1989 – Breckenridge, Colorado

  • HSA Man of the Year – Ival Van Horne
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Kathy Snyder

1988 – Evansville, Indiana

  • HSA Man of the Year – Ellsworth Bengry
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Nancy Staley

1987 – Oakdale, Pennsylvania

  • HSA Man of the Year – Don Conrad
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Irmadell Pugh

1986 – Davis, West Virginia

  • HSA Man of the Year – Ernest Markum
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Linda Byers

1985 – Falls Church, Virginia

  • HSA Man of the Year – Art Guty
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Anne Coughlin

1984 – Arlington, Virginia

  • HSA Man of the Year – Donald Farley
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Linda Lofstead

1983 – Arlington, Virginia

  • HSA Man of the Year – Steve Lipe
  • HSA Woman of the Year – Marge Burton