Eckels Society
The Eckels Society identifies and honors United Theological Seminary graduates of 40 or more years who have given dedicated service to Christ. The Society is named for the Rev. Dr. Harry L. Eckels who earned a diploma and five degrees from United over the years from 1941 to 1989. Harry Eckels exemplified dedication to the church, faithful service in ministry, deep pastoral care for all he met, a sincere life-long commitment to continuing education and the best that the United alumni/ae represent. This Society, named in his honor, is our way of recognizing those who, like Harry Eckels, honor God, Christ, the Church and United Theological Seminary by their lives.
Effective Ministry Award
Beginning in 1976, United’s Alumni/ae Association began awarding the Effective Ministry Award to one of its alumni/ae. This award is given to a person who has developed outstanding new or unique ministries, who is engaged in a particular local expression of ministry and witness, or who serves in challenging areas of ministry defined by characteristics such as geographic region or cross-cultural appointments.
Recipients
| 1976 | Paul W. Frees | ’38 |
| 1977 | Richard Kohler | ’55 |
| Glenn M. Dietrich | ’56 | |
| 1978 | Alan S. Brown | ’64 |
| Robert S. Zimmerman | ’58 | |
| 1979 | Keith A. Shepherd | ’50 |
| 1980 | James E. Flinchbaugh | ’47 |
| 1981 | Thomas L. Salsgiver | ’75 |
| 1982 | Charles J. Chipman | ’57 |
| Paul A. Lauchle | ’76 | |
| 1983 | Jaime Potter-Miller | ’75 |
| 1984 | Harold R. Biederman | ’63 |
| 1985 | James W. Grubb | ’68 |
| 1986 | Joyce E. Fry | ’71 |
| 2001 | Dot Erickson | ’67 |
| Judith A. Stone Olin | ’67 and ’88 | |
| 2003 | Dorsey E. Levell | ’60 |
| 2005 | Martha Matteson | ’87 |
| Patricia Green | ’93 | |
| 2007 | Farrell Bruce Williams | ’94 |
| Kenneth W. Cummings | ’93 | |
| 2009 | Ronald A. Mowry | ’72 |
| 2010 | Cathy Johns | ’84 |
| 2011 | David F. Martin | ’72 |
| 2012 | James H. Maynard | ’77 |
| Billie Ann Maynard | ’77 | |
| 2013 | Bernie Lieving | ’63 |
| 2015 | Michael Bowie | ’07 |
| 2016 | Ernie Bringas | ’66 |
| Eugene Skipworth | ’66 | |
| 2017 | Wade Giffin | ’91 |
Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
In the mid-1980s, another award was established, the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award. It honors those who have obtained denominational, ecumenical or professional distinction.
Recipients
| 1984 | Harry L. Eckels | ’44 |
| 1987 | Roy E. Bosserman | ’45 |
| 1989 | John A. Smith | ’36 |
| Virginia Smith (wife), Distinguished Honorary Alumna Award | ||
| 1990 | Frederick D. Hill | ’58 |
| 1991 | Captolia D. Newbern | ’80 and ’82 |
| Louis and Dorothee Ryterband, Distinguished Honorary Alumnus Award | ||
| 1992 | Newell J. Wert | ’50 |
| 1994 | Joseph H. Yeakel | ’52 |
| 1995 | David H. Andrews | ’54 |
| 1996 | Shirley K. Cadle | ’72 |
| 1998 | Vernon K. Robbins | ’63 |
| 1999 | George W. Bashore | ’58 |
| 2001 | Neil L. Irons | ’63 |
| 2003 | Floyd H. Flake | ’95 |
| 2007 | Suzan Johnson Cook | ’90 |
| 2009 | Daniel Shearer | ’41 |
| 2010 | John K. Bergland | ’55 |
| 2011 | G. Edwin Zeiders | ’73 |
| 2012 | Gregory G. M. Ingram | ’91 |
| Jessica Kendall Ingram | ’94 | |
| 2013 | Martha Mullen | ’02 |
| 2014 | Ronald Patterson | ’67 |
| 2015 | Vashti McKenzie | ’93 |
| 2016 | David Schar | ’66 |
| 2017 | Joseph Chandler | ’13 |
Outstanding D.Min. Alumnus/a Award
In 2012, another award was established, the Outstanding D.Min. Alumnus/a. It honors those who have developed an outstanding program or ministry outreach as a result of effective work in United’s Doctor of Ministry program.
Recipients
| 2012 | Allyson D. Nelson Abrams | ’00 and ’05 |
| 2013 | Stephen Swisher | ’94 and ’00 |
| Teresa McIlwain | ’03 | |
| 2014 | Mike Slaughter | ’90 |
| 2015 | Steve Gill | ’08 |
| 2017 | Stacey Cole Wilson | ’12 |
Nominate Someone You Know
Nominations for all three awards are accepted. Based on the nominations, the awards are presented at the Alumni/ae Banquet, held each fall in conjunction with the J. Arthur Heck Lectures. Fill out the form below if you would like to nominate someone.