The Magel Award honors an individual who has truly excelled in his or her role as an association executive of a local or state REALTOR® association and who is active in the REALTOR® organization at the time of nomination. Only those nominees for whom a written nomination form has been received by the deadline date will be considered. The 2012 Magel Award nomination process will open in March 2012.

WHO WAS WILLIAM R. MAGEL

William R. Magel began his career as an executive officer in 1956 at the Kalamazoo Board of REALTORS®, Michigan. He also served as executive vice president of the Bronx Board of REALTORS®, New York; executive vice president of the New York State Association of REALTORS®; executive vice president of the REALTORS® National Marketing Institute; administrative vice president of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®; and senior staff vice president of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. He was appointed to begin service January 1, 1979, as executive vice president of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® before he suffered from a heart attack and passed away on July 19, 1978.

PURPOSE AND ELIGIBILITY

The William R. Magel Award of Excellence is presented annually to an individual who has truly excelled in his or her role as an association executive of a local or state association of REALTORS® and who is active in the REALTOR® organization at the time of nomination. Eligibility must be confirmed before the nomination is processed. Individuals receiving this award are to be thoroughly screened and evaluated to make sure that the distinction of this award remains the highest, and it is truly an honor that will never be taken passively by association executives of the REALTOR® association.

All recipients of the William R. Magel Award of Excellence shall automatically become members of the Dr. Almon R. (Bud) Smith, RCE, AE Leadership Society.

NOMINATIONS

Nomination may be submitted by any person other than the candidate and must be accompanied by a letter prepared by the person making the nomination, setting forth the details of the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions consistent with criteria.

SELECTION TIMELINE

Nominations must be received by NAR at least 45 days in advance of the Midyear Legislative Meetings. Selection shall be made by the AEC/Recommendations and Recognition Panel during the Midyear Legislative Meetings. The name of the recipient will be announced at the Association Executive Committee’s Midyear Meeting; the recipient will receive a personalized plaque at the NAR Board of Directors REALTORS® Conference and Expo.

CRITERIA

1. The candidate must have served at least ten (10) years, prior to nomination, in the capacity of either a chief executive officer of a local or state association of REALTORS®, or a combination of both.
2. The candidate must have served at least one (1) term as a member of the Association Executives Committee (call 312/329-8877 to verify).
3. The candidate must have exhibited leadership abilities in their capacity as an association executive.
4. A statement shall be obtained from the local or state association for whom he or she served as executive officer specifying in detail the manner in which the candidate excelled in serving his or her respective organization.

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE WILLIAM R. MAGEL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

2011 Gary Clayton, RCE, CAE, Illinois Association of REALTORS®
2009 Travis Kessler, RCE, CAE, San Antonio Board of REALTORS®, TX
2008 Rob Authier, RCE, CAE, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®
2007 Benny McMahan, Texas Association of REALTORS®
2006 Malcolm Young, RCE, CAE, Louisiana REALTORS® Association
2005 Cindy Butts, RCE, CAE, Maine Association of REALTORS®
2004 Joel Singer, California Association of REALTORS®
2003 Chuck Staro, New York State Association of REALTORS®
2002 Judith Lindenau, RCE, CAE, Traverse Area Association of REALTORS®, MI
2001 William Malkasian, CAE, Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
2000 Gerald Matthews, CAE, Flordia Association of REALTORS®
1999 Gar Anderson, Vermont Association of REALTORS®
1998 James A. Link, CAE, Southland Regional Association of REALTORS®, CA
1997 Christine Todd, RCE, CAE, Northern Virginia Assoc. of REALTORS®, Virginia
1996 George Patt, CAE, South Southwest Association of REALTORS®, Illinois
1995 Ty Strout, RCE, CAE, Arizona Association of REALTORS®
1994 Grace Fairbanks, Nashville Board of REALTORS®, Tennessee
1993 Tommie Jackson, CAE, Atlanta Board of REALTORS®, Georgia
1992 William B. Strong, CAE, Dayton Area Board of REALTORS®, Ohio
1991 James Bichsel, CAE, North Carolina Association of REALTORS®
1990 Dr. Almon R. Smith, RCE, CAE, Ohio Association of REALTORS®
1989 Andrew Hickey, CAE, Greater Boston Board of REALTORS®, Massachusetts
1988 Milton H. Shaw, CAE, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®
1983 Robert E. Cook, CAE, Illinois Association of REALTORS®

WHAT IT MEANS TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD

1999 Recipient: Gar Anderson
"I never met Bill Magel and I believe I am the first recipient of the William R. Magel award who does not have a personal memory of the gentleman to whom we pay tribute each year. I hope that Bill Magel would agree with me when I say that no person earns the privilege to receive this award on his/her own. While this award is presented annually to an individual, it is EARNED by many."

1998 Recipient: James L. Link, CAE
"Early in my career, I had the good fortune of knowing Bill Magel and benefiting from his counsel and advice. He truly exemplified the highest standards in association management. I have also worked with most, if not all, of the previous recipients of this award and have witnessed first hand the professionalism and dedication that made them deserving of this honor. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be considered of their high caliber. I will strive to prove myself worthy of having my name listed along side theirs in tribute to the legacy of Bill Magel."

1997 Recipient: Christine Todd, RCE, CAE
"To be recognized by your peers as having achieved excellence in association management is a thrilling experience. Some may ask, where do you go from here? My answer is to strive every day to live up to the standards of excellence set by Bill Magel and inspire others to follow in his footsteps."

1996 Recipient: George Patt, CAE
"Having known Bill Magel, I would agree with others who have said that he was the executive officer's executive officer. To have been selected as a recipient of this award, which is named in his memory, is a very humbling experience. Bill was and still is the professional measure of what an association executive should strive to become. It is an awesome responsibility to carry on his legacy by receiving this award."

1995 Recipient: Ty Strout, RCE, CAE
"Receiving this recognition was a humbling experience. I was fortunate to have known Bill and knew the values he prized with regard to serving the Association and mentoring fellow association executives. I know the award is intended to provide an ongoing sensitivity to those values and to be singled out as one to 'carry the torch' is both an honor and a challenge."

1992 Recipient: William B. Strong, CAE
"To receive the William R. Magel Award of Excellence was perhaps the highlight of my real estate board executive officer career, which spans almost 40 years. I knew Bill Magel as the executive officer's executive officer, an outstanding administrator, a leader, a manager, a counselor, and a good friend. To designate me a recipient of this award and join the elite company of former recipients was almost unbelievable,and truly the pinnacle of my professional experience."

1991 Recipient: James L. Bichsel, CAE
"When I received the William R. Magel Award of Excellence, my first reaction was, Why me? Because, I was told, you have tried to live the values that Bill prized. That was the highest compliment that could be paid an association executive. Bill was there for me, and for many others, when I needed him. He set the highest professional standards for himself, and always tried to bring out the best in others. He loved life, loved his fellow man, and was beloved by them."

1990 Recipient: Dr. Almon R. Smith, RCE, CAE
"Bill Magel was a role model, a role model for executive officers as to what you wanted to be. And I can tell you specifically, he was my role model. He was also an inspiration to all of us: somebody who came from the ranks and rose up to be the most respected executive officer in the nation as the EVP of the NAR. Bill was also a counselor. But of all the things that Bill was to people, the one word that sums it up the best is that he was a friend. That's why, to me, the William R. Magel Award is the most important award I have ever received, or that I will ever receive."