In 1964, the chair-elect was instructed “… to appoint a committee to study plans for honoring Transportation and Public Utility Group members who have made significant contributions to the field and to the Transportation and Public Utilities Group during their careers.” The committee’s conclusions and recommendations provided for the recognition of past achievements of individuals who have enjoyed full, distinguished careers. This precedent was reaffirmed in the spring of 1973 by ballot vote of the membership. As a result of this directive, awards of recognition have been made since 1965.

• 2023: Ken Boyer
• 2022: John Mayo
• 2020: Kenneth Train and Richard Fowles
• 2019: Frank Wolak
• 2018: Patrick McCarthy
• 2017: Jeffrey P. Cohen
• 2016: David Gillen
• 2015: David Sappington
• 2014: Peter Loeb
• 2013: William Sharkey and Wesley W. Wilson
• 2012: Theodore Keeler
• 2011: Kenneth Button
• 2010: Michael Crew
• 2009: Clifford Winston
• 2007: Tae Oum and William Dodge (posthumously)
• 2006: Sanford Berg
• 2005: Daniel McFadden
• 2004: Eli M. Noam
• 2003: Steven A. Morrison
• Past Recipients: James C. Bonbright, Martin G. Glaeser, D. Philip Locklin, Dudley F. Pegrum, E. Grosvenor Plowman, Ben Lewis, Kent Healy, Marvin L. Fair, Joseph Rose, John Frederick, James C. Nelson, Robert W. Harbeson, Eli W. Clemens, C. Emery Troxel, James R. Nelson, Beatrice Aitchison, Horace M. Gray, L. L. Waters, Alfred E. Kahn, Charles A. Taff, Ernest W. Williams, Jr., William Vickrey (Nobel Laureate), Wilfred Owen, William H. Thompson, Roy J. Sampson, John F. Due, Merrill Roberts, Harry M. Trebing, Martin T. Farris, Robert D. Pashek, George W. Wilson, John Hazard, Donald V. Harper, James E. Suelflow, David S. Schwartz, John C. Spychalski, Edythe Miller, Douglas N. Jones, Curtis A. Cramer, William Waters III, William G. Shepherd, John Meyer, Charles F. Phillips, Jr., Ken Small, Rodney E. Stevenson, Trevor Heaver, William H. Melody