The Eldridge W. Roark, Jr. Meritorious Service Award is awarded by the National Awards Committee and shows appreciation to those who serve the Society. National officers are eligible for the award once they have completed their term.
Roark was a 1953 initiate of the Samford University Circle. He was the president of his circle as a student. He went on to serve Omicron Delta Kappa as the vice president for circle standards and vice president for extension. He served as national president from 1990-94. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Key in 1996 (now the Cheryl M. Hogle Distinguished Service Award) in 1996. Roark was a long-time student affairs administration at SUNY Plattsburgh where he also served as an advisor to the circle.
The individual must not be a current student and should have served the Society over a period of time. In general, the individual should have served the Society through one or more positions such as circle advisor or regional/national committee member or by furthering the purpose and goals of the Society through active leadership in a circle. Staff and members of the Board of Trustees are not eligible for this award until they complete their term of service. No more than four awards are given each year.
The National Headquarters accepts nominations for the award. This year, the deadline for receipt of nominations is at 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2024. To submit a nomination, email Jamie Bouldin, director for membership services, at jamie@odk.org.
Past Recipients
University of Pittsburgh
Oliver C. Carmichael (1951)
Vanderbilt University
Ralph C. McDanel (1951)
University of Richmond
George Lang (1951)
University of Alabama
Frank L. Jackson (1951)
Davidson College
Ross H. Moore (1951)
Millsaps College
Guy E. Snavely (1951)
Birmingham-Southern College
Fred B. Wren (1953)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Danner L. Mahood (1953)
Denison University
Virgil M. Hancher (1953)
State University of Iowa
Paul H. Farrier (1953)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Francis Pendleton Gaines (1958)
Washington and Lee University
Rosser Lynn Malone (1958)
Washington and Lee University
John Quincy Wolf (1959)
Southwestern at Memphis
William Tate (1959)
University of Georgia
John M. Smartt (1959)
University of Tennessee
Spencer Shank (1959)
University of Cincinnati
Karlem Riess (1959)
Tulane University
James H. Reid (1959)
University of Maryland
William Kelso Morrill (1959)
Johns Hopkins University
Reginald C. McGrane (1959)
University of Cincinnati
J. Wilfred Lambert (1959)
College of William and Mary
Marion L. Huit (1959)
Ohio Wesleyan University
Thomas F. Hubbard (1959)
Johns Hopkins University
Joseph E. Holliday (1959)
University of Cincinnati
Clarence E. Heffelfinger (1959)
Centre College
Arno J. Haack (1959)
Washington University
Russell A. Griffin (1959)
Western Reserve University
James E. Foy (1959)
University of Alabama
Arthur Delano Enyart (1959)
Rollins College
Robert B. Ellis (1959)
University of Mississippi
Philip N. Carpenter (1959)
Grove City College
Endicott A. Batchelder (1959)
University of Pittsburgh
Russell B. Allen (1959)
University of Maryland
B. F. D. Runk (1961)
University of Virginia
Lawrence C. Woodruff (1964)
University of Kansas
Marten ten Hoor (1964)
Tulane University
G. Herbert Smith (1964)
Willamette University
Frank A. Rose (1964)
University of Kentucky
Joseph M. Plant, Jr. (1964)
Auburn University
Malcolm E. Musser (1964)
Bucknell University
Robson D. McIntyre (1964)
University of Kentucky
Lloyd A. Helms (1964)
Bowling Green State University
Clarence J. Gray (1964)
University of Richmond
Landon E. Fuller (1964)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
William A. Flinn (1964)
Davidson College
Leonard A. Axe (1965)
Kansas State College
Robert D. Gregg (1965)
Carnegie Institute of Technology
William L. Hoff (1965)
University of Maryland
Maurice A. Clay (1966)
University of Kentucky
Charles M. Clark (1966)
American University
L. Dale Faunce (1966)
University of Iowa
Robert L. Morlan (1966)
Denison University
Bennett T. Sandefur (1966)
University of Kentucky
H. H. Stephanson (1966)
Miami University
C. William Vogel (1966)
University of Cincinnati
Jess L. Gardner (1968)
University of Kentucky
Robert W. Bishop (1968)
University of Cincinnati
Thurston Adams (1968)
University of Miami
Carl W. Knox (1968)
University of Miami
Gene D. Lewis (1968)
University of Cincinnati
Tom Spight Hines (1970)
University of Mississippi
Willis L. Tompkins (1970)
University of Kansas
Norman C. Laffer (1970)
University of Maryland
Clyde A. Patterson (1972)
Western Reserve University
Robert H. Knapp (1972)
University of South Dakota
Louis F. Hekhuis (1972)
Michigan State University
Dacho Dachoff (1972)
Wayne State University
Charles W. Crawford (1972)
University of Mississippi
Robert Rosen (1972)
University of Miami
Donald B. Hoffman (1974)
Muhlenberg College
Glenn O. Hilburn (1974)
Centenary College
William Hoff (1974)
University of Maryland
Robert Kamm (1976)
Drake University
Hugh Twiggs (1976)
Georgia State University
Charles Thrift (1976)
Florida Southern University
Charles F. Tate, III (1976)
University of Miami
John E. Simpson, III (1976)
Texas Technological University
James Okonak (1976)
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Loren Hickerson (1976)
University of Iowa
John Dirks (1976)
University of Illinois
William Bevan (1976)
Johns Hopkins University
Dan Beeman (1976)
University of South Florida
Samuel L. Meyer (1977)
University of Tennessee
Wayne Chambers (1978)
University of Alabama
Warren Chandler (1978)
Tulane University
David L. Readdick (1978)
Florida Southern University
Robert E. Lovely (1978)
University of Tampa
Ronald W. Roskens (1978)
Kent State University
Idris R. Traylor, Jr. (1979)
Texas Tech University
Jonathan D. Hook (1980)
Willamette University
Stanley D. Cohn (1980)
Tulane University
Ervin L. Wood (1980)
Valdosta State College
Robert A. Large (1980)
Wayne State University
Patrick M. Conoley (1980)
Baylor University
Frank M. Laney, Jr. (1982)
University of Mississippi
Garth Kriewall (1982)
Ferris State College
William C. Cheney (1984)
University of Texas
James H. Newberry, Jr. (1984)
University of Kentucky
Ray C. Wasielewski (1984)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Angelo J. Perna (1984)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Jayne Wade Anderson (1984)
Tulane University
Jack E. Prince (1984)
Marietta College
Mark E. Jacobs (1986)
University of Wyoming
Kevin L. Eikenberry (1986)
Purdue University
Joe Randy Gurie (1986)
Louisiana State University
Deborah Craig (1988)
University of South Florida
Robert John Craig (1988)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Robert A. Davis (1988)
Florida Southern College
William L. Robinson (1988)
Ohio Northern University
Harmon W. Ruliffson (1988)
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Cathy Burns Tex (1990)
Jacksonville State University
Ben F. Wade (1990)
Florida Southern College
Rodney Williams, Jr. (1990)
University of Louisville
Julia F. Morton (1991)
University of Miami
John C. White (1991)
University of Alabama-Huntsville
Philip R. Hart (1991)
University of Richmond
Margaret R. Gilbert (1992)
Florida Southern College
Raymonde Bilger (1992)
University of Miami
James O. Williams (1993)
University of Auburn at Montgomery
Carmen Mattes (1994)
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Richard Burnette (1996)
Florida Southern College
Dorothy (Nicki ) T. Cantrell (1996)
Columbia College
Melford E. Espey (1996)
University of Alabama
Cheryl Hogle (1996)
SUNY Plattsburgh
Richard E. Hoover (1996)
University of Nebraska at Omaha
John D. Morgan (1996)
Maryville University
Paul J. Parker (1996)
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Lofton Stuart (1996)
University of Tennessee
Thomas Vukovich (1996)
University of Akron
Anne M. Whittemore (1996)
University of Richmond
William S. Zerman (1996)
University of Arkansas
James R. Cunningham (1998)
Elmhurst College
Betty DeMent (1998)
Auburn University
Elaine Freeman (1998)
Pittsburg State University
Roxanne Patterson (1998)
St. Lawrence University
Rich Pirrotta (1998)
Pennsylvania State University
Colleen Thomas (1998)
University of Kentucky
Drury Bagwell (2000)
University of Tennessee
Malcolm A. Cutchins (2000)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hillary Cherry (2000)
University of Maryland
Michael Christakis (2000)
Alfred University
Teresa Flannery (2000)
University of Maryland
Carolyn Rants (2000)
Morningside College
Palmer Gene Vance (2000)
Transylvania University
Elaine Chao (2000)
Plattsburgh State University
Mead Jordan (2000)
Hastings College
Michael Bergler (2000)
University of California Riverside
Paul Fidler (2001)
University of South Carolina
Janice Fodor (2001)
Elmhurst College
Martha Green (2001)
Presbyterian College
Margaret Moody (2001)
Auburn University at Montgomery
Homer Rice (2001)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Tom Romanin (2001)
University of Northern Iowa
Caroline Sulewski (2001)
University of Akron
Carol Willis (2001)
Berry College
Ira Andrews (2002)
Emory University
Nancy Alford (2002)
LaGrange College
Stephen D. Bisese (2002)
College of William and Mary
Ruth Burnham (2002)
Bucknell University
Jerri Haussler (2002)
Hastings College
John Herbst (2002)
University of Kentucky
William Laundry (2002)
Plattsburgh State University
G. Samuel Lightner (2002)
Randolph-Macon College
Charlene Lucas (2002)
Georgetown College
Sam McKinstry (2002)
East Tennessee State University
Christa Nyman (2002)
Alfred University
William L. Robinson (2002)
Ohio Northern University
William Samuel Sadler (2002)
College of William and Mary
Robert T. Shaw (2002)
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Calder Sinclair (2002)
Emory University
Robert Squatriglia (2002)
Coastal Carolina University
David Benson Walker (2002)
Clemson University
Michael Cashman (2003)
Plattsburgh State University
Adnan Dakkuri (2003)
Ferris State University
David Dierks (2003)
University of Iowa
Donald Elkins (2003)
Tennessee Tech University
Kathleen Hall (2003)
University of Maryland-College Park
Brit Katz (2003)
Mississippi State University
Jack Magruder (2003)
Truman State University
John Novy (2003)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Andristine Robinson (2003)
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Edward Rodriguez, Jr. (2003)
University of Maryland-College Park
Gregory Singleton (2003)
University of Memphis
Kathleen Quinn (2003)
Maryville University
Gregory E. Boardman (2004)
Tulane University
Anne Leigh Bisese (2004)
University of Richmond
Bryan Hartman (2004)
Plattsburgh State University
Alexis Martinez (2004)
University of Miami
Cynthia Chapel (2004)
University of Miami
Ryan Hatton (2004)
Purdue University
Viola Trebicka (2004)
University of Richmond
Richard Mateer (2004)
University of Richmond
Gregory Roberts (2004)
University of St. Thomas
Joseph Smith (2005)
Florida State University
Lawrence Baggett (2005)
Austin Peay State University
Brian DePersiis (2006)
University at Albany
Arlene Dillon (2006)
University of Maryland College Park
Teresa Flannery (2006)
University of Maryland College Park
Audrey Hicks (2006)
Florida State University
Michael Tipton (2006)
Louisiana State University
Jason Schipper (2006)
Coastal Carolina University
Joseph D. Patalano (2006)
University at Albany
Irving N. Rothman (2006)
University of Pittsburgh
William T. Jackson (2006)
Florida State University
Michael Nichols (2006)
University of Kentucky
Jo Ann Romano (2007)
Plattsburgh State University
Kevin Romano (2007)
Plattsburgh State University
Leon (Lee) M. Cohen (2007)
Hampden-Sydney College
John Thelin (2008)
University of Kentucky
Joseph Williams (2008)
University of Maryland, College Park
Russell Cargo (2008)
Virginia Polytechnic and State University
Elizabeth Conrad (2008)
University at Albany
Malena Frett (2008)
Florida Southern College
Michael James (2008)
Harding University
Barry Jenkins (2008)
Mercer University
Kathy L. Smith (2008)
Ball State University
Mary Kathryn Covert (2009)
Samford University
Margaret Hearon (2009)
Clemson University
Marcus Lingenfelter (2009)
East Stroudsburg University
James Osteen (2009)
University of Maryland, College Park
Kristen Oaks (2009)
Louisiana State University
Thomas H. Shomo (2009)
Hampden-Sydney College
Alan Sickbert (2009)
University of St. Thomas
Stephen Banks (2010)
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Kathleen Craemer (2010)
University of Alabama
Carol Daniels (2010)
Furman University
James Miller (2010)
Transylvania University
Mack Mosley (2010)
University of Kentucky
Cathy Randall (2010)
University of Alabama
Susan Reed (2010)
Louisiana State University
Joseph Sarnoff (2010)
SUNY Potsdam
Mabry O’Donnell (2011)
Marietta College
Robin Murphey (2011)
Georgetown College
Michelle Burke (2012)
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Dan Carmichael (2012)
Emory University
Adam Chepenik (2012)
University of Maryland, College Park
Bill Kelly (2012)
Michigan State University
Rich Mains (2012)
Transylvania University
Marc Mathews (2012)
Transylvania University
Lit Maxwell (2012)
University of Richmond
Mabry O’Donnell (2012)
Marietta College
Scott Stucky (2012)
Wichita State University
Jamie Bouldin (2014)
Stephen F. Austin State University
John W. Knapp (2014)
Washington and Lee University
Joel Hermann (2016)
Maryville University
Matthew Hibdon (2016)
Middle Tennessee State University
Krista Wilhelm (2016)
East Carolina University
Brooke Supple (2016)
University of Maryland, College Park
R. Frank Johnson (2017)
Florida Southern College
Diane Vukovich (2018)
University of Akron
David Ellington (2018)
Washington and Lee University
Wandalyn Fanchon Glover (2018)
College of William and Mary
Rexford A. Waters (2018)
Elon University
Laura Osteen (2018)
University of Missouri – Columbia
Ryan L. Upshaw (2018)
University of Mississippi
Joni K. Burke (2018)
University of Louisville
William D. Razz Waff (2018)
University of Mississippi
Thomas G. Goodale (2020)
University of Florida
C. William McKee (2020)
Cumberland University
Dennis A. Pruitt, Sr. (2020)
University of South Carolina
Brandon G. Bell (2021)
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Denise A. Wellman (2021)
University of South Carolina – Columbia
Marguerite K. Cornwell (2022)
St. Lawrence University
Ralph E. Johnson (2022)
Florida State University
Lorrie M. Kyle (2022)
Rollins College
William D. Wilkerson (2022)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Betsy Dunn-Williams (2023)
Campbell University
Laura H. Seplaki (2023)
Rider University
Tiffany R. Wheeler (2023)
Transylvania University
