Outstanding Virginian Award
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia established the Outstanding Virginian Award to honor recipients whose distinguished contributions, outstanding achievements and dedicated leadership serve as an inspiration to all civic-minded citizens. The award was first presented to United States Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. in 1983.
The Virginia General Assembly named the Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III as the 2026 Outstanding Virginian, recognizing his extraordinary career in law, journalism, and public service.
Read more about the 2026 Outstanding Virginian
The Outstanding Virginian Committee, on which the dean of the Batten School currently serves, hosts an annual award ceremony to honor the year’s recipient(s) in a celebration that includes their family members, friends and close colleagues. Other Committee members include:
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John B. Adams, Jr.
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The Honorable Thomas H. Anderson, Jr.
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Leslie S. Ariail
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James W. Fletcher, III
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John H. H. Graves
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John D. Hardesty, Jr.
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James E. Rich
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Charles H. Seilheimer, Jr.
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Ian H. Solomon
Recipients of the Outstanding Virginian Award
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 2026 | J. Harvie Wilkinson III |
| 2025 | A.E. Dick Howard |
| 2024 | John Grisham |
| 2023 | G. Gilmer Minor, III |
| 2022 | Rita Janette Forrester |
| 2020 | William H. Goodwin, Jr. |
| 2019 | The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. and Mrs. Helen Turner Murphy |
| 2018 | The Honorable William J. Howell |
| 2017 | Bruce C. Gottwald and Floyd D. Gottwald, Jr. |
| 2015 | Maestro Lorin V. Maazel and Dietlinde Turban Maazel |
| 2014 | Eugene P. Trani |
| 2013 | William B. Holtzman |
| 2012 | The Honorable John H. Hager |
| 2011 | Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel |
| 2010 | The Honorable John W. Warner |
| 2009 | Charles F. Bryan, Jr. |
| 2008 | Ralph E. Stanley |
| 2007 | Senator Mark R. Warner |
| 2006 | Daniel P. Jordan |
| 2005 | Elizabeth Haskell |
| 2004 | Lora M. Robins |
| 2003 | Oliver W. Hill |
| 2002 | John T. Hazel, Jr. and William A. Hazel |
| 2001 | Brenton S. Halsey |
| 2000 | The Honorable Alson H. Smith, Jr. |
| 1999 | Timothy J. Sullivan |
| 1998 | Mary P. Mathews |
| 1997 | The Honorable Hunter B. Andrews |
| 1996 | Sydney and Frances Lewis |
| 1995 | The Honorable George M. Cochran IV and Marion Lee Cochran |
| 1994 | The Honorable Gerald L. Baliles |
| 1993 | John T. Casteen, III |
| 1992 | The Honorable A. Linwood Holton |
| 1991 | Ronald E. Carrier |
| 1990 | The Honorable Harry L. Carrico |
| 1989 | The Honorable Dorothy S. McDiarmid |
| 1988 | The Honorable John O. Marsh, Jr. |
| 1987 | The Honorable Charles S. Robb |
| 1986 | James C. Wheat |
| 1985 | The Honorable J. Kenneth Robinson |
| 1984 | The Honorable Mills E. Godwin, Jr. |
| 1983 | The Honorable Harry F. Byrd, Jr. |