The Awards Committee
The Awards Committee is chaired by the Lodge Chief (or his designee), and is responsible for selecting the recipients of the annual awards. Contact the Awards Committee for more information.
Online Nominations for the various awards can be submitted year-round. Each year, the Awards committee will collect the list of those nominated online since the last time they met, and discuss the nominations. The following awards accept online nominations:
Mike Butcher Award
William “Bud” Tobin Award
Founder’s Award
Uncas Award

(Youth Only) – Online Nomination
The Mike Butcher Memorial Award is given annually to the year’s most outstanding
youth member from Kawida Lodge #480. The award is given in memory of Mike Butcher, who tragically lost his life in 1972. Mike was a member of Troop 14, which was chartered by the Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
While on a canoeing trip with his troop, Mike’s canoe overturned in some high-water rapids in the “Little Narrows” section of the Rockcastle River, and tragically Mike was trapped under the water and drowned. Mike’s death was not only a great loss for his family and friends but was also a great loss for the lodge.
The award was first given in 1972 to both Mike Butcher (posthumously) and to his co-recipient Tim Crowley and has been given annually to a deserving youth member ever since. Mike was a great human being. He was the ideal Scout, Arrowman, and friend. He wasn’t someone to always sought the glory of the limelight, but rather he was someone who was always there in the crowd when you needed him. He always had a smile and a handshake for you, no matter what the task.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been forty years since Mike left us. His short life exemplified the purpose and intent of our great and honored Order as set forth by our founder, Dr. E. Urner Goodman, and his dedication to the Order of the Arrow has been … and always will be … an example for all of us to follow.
(Youth or Adult) – Online Nomination
The William “Bud” Tobin Award was authorized by Kawida Lodge for the first time in 2007 and is given annually at the Winter Banquet to any youth or adult member who exhibits the values embodied in our brother, who passed on well before his time.
Bud was a Vigil Honor member of Kawida Lodge, and for many years handled Lodge merchandise and ran the trading post. He always had a smile on his face and a helping hand for his fellow Scouts and Lodge members. He undertook this somewhat irksome task despite numerous health challenges that limited his own abilities to be as active as he would have liked.
Bud also served several years as the Baden Powell Director at Camp McKee and was an Assistant Scoutmaster, as well as Chartered Organization Representative, for Troop 60 at the Cynthiana United Methodist Church. He is fondly remembered, and his Scouting legacy of service is carried by all with whom he came in contact.
(Youth or Adult) – Online Nomination
The Founder’s Award was created in 1980 by the National Committee of the Order of the Arrow to honor and recognize those Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to their lodge. It is a national award given by the local lodge.
The award is reserved for an Arrowman who demonstrates to his fellow Arrowmen that he memorializes in his everyday life the spirit of achievement as described by the founders of the Order of the Arrow, Dr. E. Urner Goodman, and Carroll A. Edson. Kawida Lodge #480 presented its first Founder’s Award in 1982 to the late Douglas W. Cox. Since that time, the Lodge has presented numerous other deserving youth and adult Arrowmen with this prestigious award.
(One Youth and One Adult) – Online Nomination
In the legend of our Order, the son of Chief Chingachgook, Uncas, was the first willing to go on the journey of uniting all nations. This willingness and dedication to our ideals have rippled outward, touching generations of Arrowmen worldwide, and is no different here at Kawida Lodge.
In honor of the centennial of the Order of the Arrow, the Lodge Executive Committee incorporated a recognition that would honor those Arrowmen who have contributed to the legacy and strengthening of Kawida Lodge through outstanding service and involvement. The initial recipients of the Uncas included Centurion Award recipients of Kawida Lodge and a group of inaugural recipients in honor of the centennial.
Annually, the Lodge will present the award to deserving youth members who strengthen Kawida Lodge through outstanding service and involvement and adults who have contributed to the legacy of Kawida Lodge.

Award Recipients Archive
Here are all the recipients of Kawida’s Mike Butcher Award:
1972 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 | Mike Butcher Tim Crowley Tommy Martin Harrison Myers Elvis Doll Tom Barclay Doug Sherwood Stephen A. Heil Brian Laytart Alan Storrow Stuart Landrum Doug Blome Mark Burkett Mark Eblen Allen Scott Terry Fisher Carl Gibson Richard Holt | 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 | Jimmy Porter Craig Norris Ethan Waterbury James W. Collins Steven Stacy Shane Ratliff Kelly Bently Patrick Jeffreys John Blankenship Chris Royster Joseph Young Jeremy Luckett Lucas Cummins Andy Tuttle Tim Wade Todd Haydon Todd Watts Bryan Haydon | 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 | Anthony Kenney Austin Newsome Andrew Anderson Aaron Shepherd Don Combs T. Alex Hill Jonathan Davenport Nathan Vick Nick Oliver Sebastian Torres Ryan Wharton Trey Embry Patrick Johnson Jesse Cathey Siobhan Johnson |
Here are the recipients of Kawida Lodge’s William “Bud” Tobin Award:
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 | Claudette Watts Tim Brown Ken Green Barby Newell Alan Watts Barry Goff Tony South Larry Lowe Doug Vick Aiden Coker Todd Haydon Andrew Baker Parrish Johnson Mikey Hillegass |
Here are all the recipients of Kawida Lodge’s Founder’s Award:
1982 1990 1991 1991 1992 1992 1996 1996 1997 1997 1998 1998 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 | Douglas W. Cox William E. “Bill” Hunt Tommy Nichols Craig Norris Bruce Crowley James W. “J.W.” Collins Gary McCown Shane Ratliff Tommy Martin Marshall Prewitt Jamie Cook William “Bill” Dawkins Ken Green Jason Blaine Harold W. Phillips Kent Burton Timothy C. Brown Josh Nichols Lucas Cummins Timothy E. Terry William “Bill” Gay V.A. “Tripp” Watts Todd Haydon Todd Watts Scott Beckett Andrew Smith | 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 | Bryan Haydon Alan Nichols Don Combs Claudette Watts Anthony Kenney Alan Watts T. Alex Hill Mike Warman Aaron Shepherd Barry Goff Jake Redenbaugh Barby Newell Nick Oliver Robert Palmer Nathan Vick Doug Vick Nolan Buland Marlene Gonzalez Aaron Reynolds Larry Lowe Ben Gilbert Sam Lyons Trey Embry Brent Johnson Steven Misczenski Scott Wood | 2020 2020 | Robert Shaffer Marcella Smith |
Here are all the recipients of Kawida Lodge’s Uncas Award:
*Centurion Award Recipients
2015 | Guy Walton Ferrell* Lucien Rice* William R. Grant* Aaron Shepherd* Nick Oliver* Alan Watts* Douglas Winn Cox* William E. Hunt* Don Combs Frank Lewis Tim Brown Tim Terry Barry Goff Todd Haydon Doug Vick Marlene Gonzalez Ken Green Robert Palmer | 2015 | | | | | | | 2016
| Claudette Watts T. Alex Hill Barby Newell Larry Lowe Anthony Kenney Mitchell Redenbaugh Mike Warman Nathan Vick Brandon Barlow Nolan Buland Ben Gilbert Deven Gonzalez Aaron Reynolds Bob Hillwig Tripp Watts Bill Dawkins?? Clay Rose?? | 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 | | | James Blankenship Merrill Blevins Trey Embry Scott Wood Jesse Cathey Mike Shaffer |
Here are all the recipients of Kawida Lodge’s Michael Wood Ceremonialist Spirit Award:
2016 2016 2017 2020 | Nathan Vick Nolan Buland Barry Johnson? Nate Hernandez |
The Outstanding Chapter award was created in 2011 to recognize the single best chapter of the year.
2019 2020 | We-Ha-Li Chapter We-Ha-Li Chapter |
The Chief’s Citation Award was created in 1961 by the Lodge Executive Committee to recognize that individual (or individuals) whom the Chief feels has aided him the most throughout the year. Originally, it could be given to either a youth or an adult member whom the Chief felt was deserving of the recognition. Still today, it is given annually to only deserving youth or adult members of the Lodge, and is considered by many to represent the year’s most outstanding Arrowmen. Those who have received it consider it a great honor.
1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 | 1978 | 1979 1980 1981 1982 | 1983 1984 | Frank Barnett Jim Porter Joseph White, Sr. William R. Grant Harry N. Clover Paul B. Hay, Jr James B. Morris Jess Richards James D. Hill Douglas W. Cox Raleigh Watson Carlisle Meyers, Jr William E. Hunt James Tolson Bruce Crowley Tom McReynolds Tommy Nichols Harold Snider Ernest Lee Hunt Byron McNeely Harold Phillips Barry Brandenburg Tim Crowley Buddy Chappel Father Ray Mulhern Steve Heil Joseph A. Heil | 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 | 1991 1992 1993 1994 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Stuart Conley Bill Gay Bob Lemire Kevin Willis Steve Norris Dave Sparks Ken Green Tommy Martin James Smith David Sengel Robert Palmer Gary McCowan Howard Abshire Tim Brown Norman Lawson Kenny Burton Rick Mosely Scott Beckett Bill Gay Debbie Wade Harold Phillips Debbie Palmer Alan Watts Claudette Watts Barry Goff Todd Watts Barry Goff | 2008 | 2009 | | | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | | 2016 2017 | 2018 2019 2020 | Sunder Willett Barby Newell Aaron Shepherd Andrew Anderson Barry Goff Ken Green Alex Hill Doug Vick Ken Green Andy Rechel Nathan Vick Doug Vick Nathan Vick Anthony Kenney Connie Lane Nick Oliver Marlene Gonzalez Doug Vick Sebastian Torres Colin Stapleton Marlene Gonzalez Todd Haydon Michael Shaffer Patrick Johnson Trey Embry Patrick Johnson Andrew Baker Dalton Kemper |
The Lodge Adviser’s Award was created in 1993 by Lodge Adviser Kevin Willis to annual- ly recognize an individual (or individuals) whom the Lodge Adviser feels has aided him the most throughout the year. The award may be given to anyone whom the Lodge Adviser feels is deserving of the recognition. The individual (or individuals) can be an Arrowmen, Scout, Scouter, professional, or lay person.
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 | 1998 1999 2000 | 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 | 2008 | | Dorothy Sparks Dave Sparks Daniel Gaeddert Tim Cummins Scott Beckett Robert Palmer Doug Wehr Gerald Holland Ken Green Robert Palmer Timothy C. Brown William B. Tobin, III Clay Rose Robert Palmer Mike Warman Aaron Shepherd Aaron Shepherd Billy Zoellers Will Goff Aaron Shepherd Mike Warman | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 2012 | | 2013 | 2014 | | | 2015 2016 2017 | 2018 2019 2020 | | Alex Hill Dale Morton Doug Wehr Tom & T. Alex Hill Claudette Watts Todd Haydon Ken Green Barry Goff Morgan South Connie Lane Tim Brown Marlene Gonzalez Nathan Vick Tamarin Vick Debbie Haydon Anthony Kenney Mike Shaffer Anna Marie Jackowski Mike Shaffer Sofer Family Tim Brown Mike Shaffer |
The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented by the National OA Committee to Arrowmen who have rendered outstanding service to the Order of the Arrow on a national, regional, area, or sectional basis. The award is presented to both youth and adult members, and the ceremony occurs only at National OA Conferences (NOAC’s). Less than 900 of these awards have been given to deserving Arrowmen throughout the country since the award’s inception in 1940. Kawida Lodge is proud that five lodge members have received this very prestigious award!
1963 – William “Bill” Grant; Winchester, KY
Kawida Lodge’s Chief for four consecutive years (1961-1964), the only person to serve four years as Lodge Chief. Also, Area Chief (a.k.a. Section Chief today) in 1964 (the first year of Area 4G). Bill is also a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Journalism (2001 Hall of Fame). Currently living in New York, he works for public television, and became the Executive Producer of the PBS series, “NOVA,” and has earned Emmy Awards, Peabody Awards, etc.
2012 – Don Combs; Pikeville, KY
Don was a two-term Lodge Chief for Kawida Lodge (2006 and 2007), a two-term Section Chief (2007 SR-6N and 2009 SR-6), and the 2010 Southern Region Chief. He was also the Youth Incident Commander at the 2008 ArrowCorps5 event at the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri.
2012 – Timothy E. Terry; Lexington, KY
Tim Terry was Kawida Lodge’s Chief in 1975, and as a youth member served on the OA Service Corps staff at the 1973 National Scout Jamboree. As an adult, Tim has been a member of the administrative services staff for national OA events since 1992. Tim served as the Assistant National OA Registrar from 2006-2009, and became the National OA Registrar in 2009, where he still serves today.
2015 – Aaron Shepherd; Pikeville, KY
Aaron Shepherd served as Kawida Lodge Chief in 2010.
2015 – Timothy C. Brown; Nicholasville, KY
Tim Brown