Established in 2004, the Distinguished Service Award annually recognizes an MDDC volunteer whose extraordinary service effort has made a profound and lasting difference to MDDC organization and membership.
Each annual winner is presented an engraved bowl at MDDC’s Hall of Fame & Distinguished Service Award Program, traditionally held in late May at the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition, a $500 contribution is made to the MDDC Press Foundation in the winner’s name.
| Year | Honoree | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Karen Acton | Former CEO/CFO, Gazette Newspapers and Southern MD News |
| 2014 | Pat Richardson | Former Publisher, The Carroll County Times & Annapolis Capital |
| 2013 | Christopher A. Eddings | Former Publisher, The Daily Record; retired VP, Business Information, The Dolan Company |
| 2012 | Frank Quine | Retired Assistant Dean, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland |
| 2011 | John League | Retired Publisher, The Herald-Mail |
| 2010 | Tom Schmidt | Carroll Publishing |
| 2009 | Jeff Mezzatesta | Chesapeake Publishing |
| 2008 | Jim Donahue | Retired Executive Director, MDDC Press Association |
| 2007 | Tom Marquardt | Retired Publisher, Annapolis Capital |
| 2006 | Larry Effingham | The Star Democrat |
| 2005 | James S. Keat | The Baltimore Sun |
| 2004 | Carol Melamed | The Washington Post |