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.
2026 Awardee
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. |
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A.E. Dick Howard Receives 2025 Outstanding Virginian AwardRenowned international constitutional law expert and the longest-serving professor at UVA, A.E. Dick Howard has been selected as this year’s Outstanding Virginian. The award is given by a committee of Virginia General Assembly, on which UVA Batten Dean Ian H. Solomon serves, to honor those whose contributions, achievements, and leadership inspire citizens of the commonwealth.
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John Grisham Receives 2024 Outstanding Virginian AwardPhilanthropist and best-selling author John Grisham was given the 2024 Outstanding Virginian Award at a ceremony at the State Capitol attended by members of the Outstanding Virginian Committee, including Batten School Dean Ian Solomon.
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Batten Honors Retired Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell as the Outstanding Virginian of 2018The Batten School and the Outstanding Virginian Committee have selected retired Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell as the Outstanding Virginian of 2018. A ceremony to honor Howell will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)
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Batten Honors Former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell With “Outstanding Virginian” AwardFormer speaker of Virginia's House of Delegates William J. Howell received the 2018 Outstanding Virginian award at a ceremony at Batten's Garrett Hall.