The Dr. George E. Stone Award is the association’s highest honor. The award recognizes a person or organization that has continually demonstrated a strong commitment to the industry, significant advocacy on behalf of public trees, and dedicated volunteer service to the organization.
Previous recipients have included members, non-members and organizations, all of them elected to receive this prestigious honor because of their willingness to support and lend a helping hand to the association. The award is presented at the annual meeting at the January conference. Recognition of the individual is also featured in the quarterly newsletter, The Bark, and on the association’s web page. A press release is shared with the town hall and local paper where the individual resides. The award is not necessarily presented every year.
Criteria for award nomination
- A minimum of ten years of service in the public tree sector.
- Recognized for contributions in public tree care and advocacy
- Worked with the MTWFA and has shown dedication and commitment to the advancement of the Association
Recipients
| 2022 | Karen Doherty, MTWFA Executive Director 2006-2021 |
| 2020 | Mollie Freilicher, Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation & Recreation, Urban and Community Forestry |
| 2018 | R. Patrick Ellis, Town of Brewster |
| 2014 | Eric F. Seaborn, National Grid press release |
| 2013 | Dr. H. Dennis P. Ryan, UMass Amherst UMass website announcement |
| 2011 | Thomas Brady, Tree Warden, Town of Brookline |
| 2010 | Charles Burnham, Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation & Recreation |
| 2007 | Thomas Chamberland, Tree Warden, Town of Sturbridge |
| 2006 | Dean Charter, Tree Warden, Town of Acton |
| 2004 | James MacArthur, National Grid |
| 2001 | Wesley H. Osborne, Jr. |
| 1998 | Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Management |
| 100th Anniversary | Ronald Despres, Tree Warden, Town of Wellesley |
| 1995 | Seth H. Swift, Tree Warden, Town of West Springfield |
| 1994 | Mount Auburn Cemetery |
| Newton Pride – Leo Levy | |
| 1993 | Falmouth Beautification Committee |
| Dr. Francis Holmes, UMass Amherst | |
| Bull World Wide Information Systems | |
| 1989 | Professor Gordon S. King |
| 1988 | The Honorable Richard E. Neal |
| 1986 | McKinnon Wakefield of Milton MA |
| Telephone Pioneers | |
| 1985 | Town of Manchester by the Sea, Friends Group |
| Shade Tree Laboratory, UMass Amherst | |
| c. 1984 | Clinton Chamber of Commerce |
| Earlier years | Town of Wellesley (Wellesley Group) |
| Robert Reardon, Tree Warden, Town of Pembroke | |
| Louis Casasanto, Tree Warden, Town of Clinton | |
| Garden Club of Arlington | |
| Advisory Landscape Council, Sandwich |