The BCI Distinguished Service Award is BCI’s highest honor recognizing individuals who have made a sustained, long-term, and meaningful contribution to the advancement of both the association and the battery industry.
BCI Distinguished Service Award
The BCI Distinguished Service Award is BCI’s highest honor recognizing individuals who have made a sustained, long-term, and meaningful contribution to the advancement of both the association and the battery industry.
Individuals who have demonstrated outstanding mentorship of trainees, provided noteworthy service to the community and/or contributed to the diversity and inclusion of the field will also be recognized.
BCI’s Quarter Century Club will review all submitted nominations and present any recommended recipients to the BCI Board of Directors for consideration and final selection.
Recipients of this award will be invited to submit an accompanying article to be published on the BatteryCouncil.org website within two months of the award presentation, with an accompanying recognition of the individual’s contributions to the association and industry.
Submit a Nomination Today
BCI values the contributions of all industry members, present and past, and encourages nominators to consider all potential mentors and colleagues. Self-nominations are welcome. Please submit your nomination by December 15th, 2024. You may be asked if you would be willing to provide a longer and more detailed nomination letter at a later date.
Congratulations to the 2024 Recipients!
These inspiring individuals were formally honored as part of the association’s 100th Anniversary celebrations at the 2024 BCI Convention + Power Mart Expo, April 21-24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Read the news release celebrating these three industry icons.
Bob Flicker
East Penn Manufacturing, Retired
Bob joined East Penn as an Engineering Technician in 1972, where he served in various engineering leadership roles until becoming Executive Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing in 1994. He then assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2014 until his retirement from East Penn in 2022 after 50 years of service.
Worldwide acceptance of the BCI group numbering system could not have happened without Bob Flicker and his decade- long chairmanship of the Data Book Committee. He was knowledgeable about the issues and had the respect of the technical committee members throughout the process – and in fact, Bob also served as Chairman of BCI’s technical committee for over 10 years.
Hal Hawk
Crown Battery
Hal Hawk is the President of Crown Battery and has been a part of the organization’s success for over 40 years.
Hal has been a fixture of the BCI Board of Directors since 1999 and currently is the longest-serving current member on the Board. Hal also served as President of BCI from 2006-2008. Hal was a key leader at BCI as the members of the Independent Battery Manufacturers Association (IBMA) were integrated into the organization.
He has served as BCI Convention Chair for more than two decades, is the Chair of the BCI Quarter Century Club, and is a devoted leader of the annual BCI Golf Tournament. He also continues to be active on numerous other BCI committees.
Roger Winslow
Voltmaster, Retired
Roger Winslow purchased Voltmaster in 1957, investing in his hometown of Corydon, Iowa, and leading that firm and other key battery industry suppliers for more than five decades.
In the mid-1960s, Roger led the formation of the modern BCI Group Size system, and was instrumental in the formation of the BCI Data Book Committee and the continued publication of this valuable industry resource. Roger served as president of BCI from 1986-1988, and was also president of the Independent Battery Manufacturers from 1973-1975. He served on the BCI Board of Directors for roughly three decades until 2006, and as a Board Member Emeritus until 2012.
Past Recipients
Distinguished Service Award
2021: Howard Meyers
2020: David Weinberg
Honorary Lifetime Membership
2002: DeLight Breidegam
1997: Harvey Gershenson
1985: Peter Aspinall
1976: Charles H. Allen
1970: Bernie Steiner
1970: Walton Smith
1970: Norman R. Farsje
1958: Edward T. Foote
1956: Robert L. Sommerville
1956: Vernon L. Smithers
1955: Dan H. Kelly
1955: Benjamin F. Morris
1945: L.B.F. Raycroft
Please contact info@batterycouncil.org with any questions related to the Distinguished Service Award.
The pandemic has shown us just how vital the lead battery industry is. Without 12V batteries, first responders can’t function; food and medical supplies can’t reach their destination; essential employees can’t get to their jobs....It’s as simple as that.