- Optometrist of the Year Nominees & Recipients
- Young Optometrist of the Year Nominees & Recipients
- William Van Essen Award Nominees & Recipients
- Distinguished Legislator Award Recipients
- Dr. Jerry Davidoff Memorial Award Recipients
- H. Ward Ewalt, O.D., Meritorious Service Award Recipients
- Donald H. Evans, O.D. Award Recipients
- Joseph Ricci Memorial Award
- Merit Awards Recipients
George Gottschalk, Jr. Memorial Award Recipients
George Gottschalk, Jr.
George Gottschalk, Jr. served as the Pennsylvania Optometric Association's executive director from 1962 until his death in March 1973. Mr. Gottschalk established the first long-range planning committee for the association and arranged for the chartering of the Optometric Centers of Pennsylvania, which became the legal entity for optometric participation in numerous activities sponsored by state agencies. Also during his administration, legislation was adopted to establish non-profit optometric service corporations; freedom of choice legislation was passed; and optometric exhibit was developed for Harrisburg's William Penn Museum; the Memorial Card program for the Vision Conservation Institute was established; and valuable changes in the vision reporting form for the Bureau of Motorists was made. Mr. Gottschalk also served as POA's lobbyist, and under his watch, the Vision Welfare League, the forerunner of the Pennsylvania Optometric Political Action Committee (POPAC), was created.
The George Gottschalk, Jr. Memorial Award
The George Gottschalk, Jr. Memorial Award is presented annually to the outstanding committee chairperson as selected by POA Board of Directors. This award, typically presented in the spring, honors a member who served as chair the previous calendar year. Prior to 2004, the award was presented in November, honoring a current-year chair.
Recipients of the George Gottschalk, Jr. Memorial Award
| Year | Recipient | Committee |
| 2024 | Gregory Caldwell, O.D. | Third Party Center Chair Presented April 2024 |
| 2023 | Perry Umlauf, O.D. | Exhibits Chair Presented March 2023 |
| 2022 | Lori Gray, O.D. | Keyperons Committee Presented April 2022 |
| 2021 | Daniel Russell, O.D. | Nominating and Evaluating Committee Presented October 2021 |
| 2020 | John Alexander, O.D. | Resolution & By-Laws Committee Presented October 2021 |
| 2019 | Robert Bittel, O.D., F.A.A.O. | Legislative Affairs Committee Presented May 2019 |
| 2018 | Linda Casser, O.D. | Membership Retention/Recruitement Committee Presented May 2018 |
| 2017 | Anthony Diecidue, O.D. | Awards Committee Presented May 2017 |
| 2016 | Robert Bittel, O.D., F.A.A.O. | Legislative Affairs Committee Presented May 2016 |
| 2015 | Stephen Hess, O.D. | Student Membership Task Force Presented May 2015 |
| 2014 | Paul Lobby, O.D. | Third Party Center Committee Presented November 2014 |
| 2012 | Lori Gray, O.D. | Diabetes Task Force Presented June 2013 |
| 2011 | W. David Rule, O.D. | Resolutions & By-Laws Committee (2010 Chair) Presented June 2012 |
| 2010 | James B. Paulson, O.D. | Legislative Affairs Committee Presented June 2011 |
| 2009 | Donna M. Buraczewski, O.D. Noah M. Eger, O.D. |
POPAC POPAC Fundraising Subcommittee Presented June 2010 |
| 2008 | Barbara M. Yanak, O.D. | Personnel Committee Presented June 2009 |
| 2007 | S. Candace Covey, O.D. | Healthy Persons 2010 Committee Presented June 2008 |
| 2006 | Edward B. Savarno, O.D. | Membership Development & Retention Committee Presented June 2007 |
| 2005 | Carl J. Urbanski, O.D. | Legislative Affairs Committee Presented June 2006 |
| 2004 | John Andren, O.D. | Eye Care Benefits Committee Presented June 2005 |
| 2003 | Robert L. Owens, O.D. | Motorists’ Vision Committee |
| 2002 | Arnold R. Eger, O.D. | Legislative Affairs Committee |
| 2001 | James S. Spangler, O.D. | Pediatric Vision Care Committee |
| 2000 | Janice Bianchi Frederickson, O.D. | Congress Steering Committee |
| 1999 | Jerry P. Davidoff, O.D. | Eye Care Benefits Committee |
| 1998 | Joseph P. Ruskiewicz, O.D. | Quality Assessment & Improvement Cmte. |
| 1997 | Harvey P. Hanlen, O.D. | Legal/Legislative Affairs Committee |
| 1996 | Michael R. Mohn, O.D. | Centennial Committee |
| 1995 | John C. Alexander, O.D. | Membership Services Committee |
| 1994 | Charles J. Stuckey, Jr., O.D. | Eye Care Benefits Committee |
| 1993 | W. Reynolds Sisson, O.D. | Motorists’ Vision Committee |
| 1992 | Charles N. Griffen, O.D. | Membership Development Committee |
| 1991 | Jacqueline DeJesse, O.D. | DPW Task Force |
| 1990 | Daniel W. Doberneck, O.D. | Resolutions & By-Laws Committee |
| 1989 | Melvin E. Lilly, O.D. | Eye Care Benefits Committee |
| 1986 | Bruce M. May, O.D. | Evaluating & Nominating Committee |
| 1985 | Satya B. Verma, O.D. | Membership Committee |
| 1984 | Harvey P. Hanlen, O.D. | Legal/Legislative Committee |
| 1983 | I. William Collins, O.D. | Continuing Education |
| 1982 | Nicholas Pappas, O.D. | Congress Steering Committee |
| 1981 | Joseph G. Gackenbach, O.D. | By-Laws Revision Committee |
| 1980 | Arnold R. Eger, O.D. | Clinical Practice Committee |
| 1979 | David A. Koch, O.D. | Clinical Practice Committee |
| 1978 | Walter L. Kaplen, O.D. | Vision Benefit Committee |
| 1977 | Eugene J. Bogage, O.D. | Professional & Patient Relations Committee |
| 1976 | Alvin H. Freedman, O.D. | Constitution & By-Laws Committee |
| 1975 | Gerald B.M. Stein, O.D. | Congress Steering Committee |
| 1974 | James A. Tribbett, O.D. | Assistance to Graduates & Undergraduates |
| 1973 | Anna M. Miller, O.D. | Paraoptometrics |
| 1972 | Elmer Friedman, O.D. | Pennsylvania Optometrist |
