Past NPBA Liberty Bell Award Recipients

• 2023 Laurie Claywell, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
• 2022 Debra Hill, Ret., Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
• 2021 Cheryl Dougherty, Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office
• 2020 Donna Bausch, Executive Director of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association and Law Librarian of the Norfolk Law Library
• 2019 Dr. Marla Newby, Norfolk Circuit Court Drug Court Coordinator
• 2018 Valerie Tuck, Norfolk Public Schools
• 2016 Jeanette Newton, Paralegal, Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Office
• 2015 Miles Warren, Police Officer, City of Norfolk
• 2014 Roxie A. Hoven, Executive Director, Norfolk CASA
• 2013 Sandra Claxton, Judicial Programs Manager, Norfolk Circuit Court
• 2011 Dr. Suzanne Starling, CHKD Pediatrician, Child Abuse Program
• 2010 Rachel Hunter, social worker, Street Law Program
• 2009 Lee Ann Curtis Avery, founding member, Friends of Norfolk Juvenile Court
• 2008 Joshua Darden, business leader and philanthropist
• 1998 G. William Whitehurst, member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1969-87 - Janie Whitehurst
• 1997 Dr. William T. Greer, Jr., President, Virginia Wesleyan College, 1992-2015
• 1996 Regina Marscheider, Spectrum Puppets creator
• 1995 Martha R. Sorensen, Norfolk Court Docent Program
• 1994 Harvey L. Lindsay, commercial real estate executive and philanthropist
• 1993 Ann Hughes, Citizens Advisory Council, Norfolk Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
• 1991 Theresa H. Albertson, educator, Jean T. Hodges, educator and Girl Scout volunteer, Karla M. Smith, Suffolk River Heritage founder
• 1990 Kenneth R. Hinderliter, Deputy Clerk, Norfolk Circuit Court, Supervisor, Law Division, 1966-89, Frank S. Tinuzzo, Deputy Clerk, Norfolk Circuit Court, Supervisor, Chancery Division, 1972-90
• 1989 Evelyn T. Butts, successfully challenged Virginia's poll tax in the 1960s
• 1988 Kevin Moran, Department of Juvenile Justice
• 1987 Claude J. Staylor, Jr., Norfolk Chief of Police, 1967-74, Norfolk City Council, 1974-86
• 1986 Hugh L. Stovall, Clerk, Norfolk Circuit Court
• 1985 Joan S. Cohen, Norfolk Court Docent Program, Betty Wade Coyle, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads
• 1984 Gloria P. Hagans, Norfolk Public Schools Administrator
• 1983 Frank Batten, Chairman, Landmark Communications, 1967-98, Publisher, The Virginian Pilot and philanthropist
• 1982 John R. Sears, Jr., Harborfest co-founder
• 1981 Alfred B. Rollins, Jr., President, Old Dominion University, 1976-85
• 1980 Henry Clay Hofheimer, II, business and civic leader and philanthropist
• 1979 Colgate W. Darden, member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1933-37, 1939-41, Governor of Virginia, 1947-59 and President of U.Va., 1947-59
• 1978 Emily N. Spong, Portsmouth School Board member and Chair, 1937-60
• 1977 Constance Laws, community leader in social work and gerontology
• 1976 Capt. Paul L. Merwin, U.S. Navy
• 1975 Friends of the Juvenile Court
• 1974 Stanley C. Walker, member, Virginia House of Delegates and State Senator, 1965-2000
• 1973 Lewis W. Hurst, Sr., Chair, Virginia State Crime Commission, 1973-82 and Vice-Chair, Virginia Parole Board, 1982-94
• 1972 Vincent J. Thomas, Norfolk Mayor, 1976-84
• 1971 Edwin L. Lamberth, Norfolk Superintendent of Schools, 1960-72
• 1970 Porter Hardy, Jr., member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1947-69
• 1969 Calvin H. Dalby, Norfolk Chief of Police, 1952-53
• 1968 William Shands Meacham, Associate Editor of the Virginian Pilot
• 1967 Harold Anderson, Norfolk Chief of Police, 1956-67
• 1966 Samuel T. Northern, businessman who strengthened the relationship between the community and the military
• 1965 Lenoir Chambers, Editor, The Virginian Pilot, 1950-61
• 1964 John J. Brewbaker, Norfolk Superintendent of Schools, 1949-60