The Parris Award is named for one of Southwest Writers Workshop’s founding members, Parris Afton Bonds, who gave tirelessly of her time encouraging new members. The award is given to a SWW member who 1) has a significant published body of work, 2) a record of extraordinary effort in furthering the organization, and 3) a pattern of showing encouragement to other writers.
Previous recipients are as follows:
Parris Afton Bonds – 1987
Mary Lynn – 1988
Norm Zollinger – 1989
Eileen Stanton – 1990
Paula Paul – 1991
Lois Duncan – 1992
Madge Harrah – 1993
Jean Blackman Waszak – 1994
Tony Hillerman – 1995
Elsie Kreischer – 1996
Suzanne Spletzer – 1997
JoAnn Hamlin – 1998
Suzanne Spletzer – 1999
Sue Mann – 2000
Suzi Little – 2001
Larry Greely – 2002
Lela Belle Wolfert- 2003
Sandy Schairer – 2004
David Corwell – 2005
Robert Spiegel – 2006
Loretta Hall – 2007
Melody Groves – 2008
Keith Pyeattt – 2009
Jeanne Shannon – 2010
Rick Reichman – 2011
Joseph Badal – 2012
Gail Rubin – 2015
Sarah Baker – 2018
Jacqueline Murray Loring – 2020
Kirt Hickman – 2021
Rose Marie Kern – 2022
Jim Tritten – 2023
Cornelian Gamlen – 2024
