Catherine D Cooksley Excellence in Service Award

This award is presented annually to a member of the Texas Public Health Association who has demonstrated excellence in service to the association through a drive and passion for public health. Service examples include, but are not limited to, serving as an association officer, serving on the Executive Board or Governing Council, chairing a section, volunteering for special projects, serving on committees, assisting with the annual education conference, etc. This award is named for past president and retired Texas Public Health Journal editor, Dr. Catherine Cooksley, who has served the association in various roles over the past 42 years.

Nomination criteria and requirements:

1. Member of TPHA for 5 years or more.
2. Fellow of TPHA.
3. Description of service to TPHA (250 words or less) which represents excellence in service.
4. Brief list of roles (jobs) held in the public health arena.

Nomination may be made by nominee or a sponsor. If nominated by a sponsor, sponsor must be a TPHA member and sponsor’s name must accompany the nomination. 

Honorary Life Member Award

One of the greatest distinctions bestowed on a member of the Texas Public Health Association is that of Honorary Life Membership. Any active member may nominate a prospective candidate for Honorary Membership by writing to the Awards Committee.

The following criteria are required of nominees for Honorary Membership:

1. Must have been an active continuous member of TPHA for at least 20 years and must have attended ten or more annual meetings.

2. Must have served the Association contributing to annual and regional meeting programs, holding office within the Association, and participating on Association committees.

3. Supporting documentation such as letters from employers, individuals, public citizens or community groups, schools or colleges, or businesses; news clippings, photographs; journal articles; or other documentation pertinent to the nomination. 

James E Peavy Memorial Award

The James E. Peavy Memorial Award is presented annually to the public health worker in Texas who has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health knowledge or practice or who has demonstrated a genuine concern for the health needs of society.

This award is the Texas Public Health Association’s highest accolade for outstanding health professionals; it consists of a $500.00 honorarium and plaque. The award serves as a living memorial to James E. Peavy, M.D., who served as Commissioner of Health in Texas from 1959 until his retirement in 1975. Dr. Peavy was an active member of the Texas Public Health Association for 39 years and was made an Honorary Member in 1969.

The following criteria are required of all nominations:



1. A 250-word (or less) description of why the nominee is deserving of this award. Descriptions should be concise and specific and should demonstrate the nominee’s work over and above job requirement.

2. A one-page biographical sketch (or vita) of the nominee and a 4 x 5 glossy, black & white photograph of the nominee.

3. Up to 10 pages of supporting documentation such as letters from employers, individuals, public citizen or community groups, schools or colleges, or businesses; news clippings; photographs; journal articles; or other documentation pertinent to the nomination.

4. The nominee must be a member of TPHA. Nomination may be made by nominee or a sponsor. If nominated by a sponsor, sponsor must be a TPHA member and sponsor’s name must accompany the nomination. 

Legislative Excellence Award

This award may be presented to both a state representative and state senator who has shown special interest in public health issues. Any active TPHA member may nominate a candidate for these awards.

The following guidelines have been established for nominees of these awards; nominees must have:



1. Demonstrated an interest in public health issues.

2. Shown a concern for the recruitment and retention of high-quality health care workers.

3. Supported legislation which emphasized prevention and health promotion.

4. Facilitated legislation supporting preventive health care, health care professionals, and options of health care.

Ron J Anderson Thinking Progressively for Health Award (TPHA)

The Ron J. Anderson Thinking Progressively for Health (TPHA) Award, formally the Thinking Progressively for Health Award, honors the late Dr. Ron J. Anderson and the innovative ideas and practices he established for the public health profession. The award rewards excellence and innovation in current public health practice across the state of Texas.

Recipient will receive a $400 cash award and the Ron J. Anderson Public Health Innovation Award plaque. Recipients’ projects will also be highlighted in the issue of the Texas Public Health Association Journal published following the Annual Education Conference.

Submissions should demonstrate how the nominee has:

• Identified creative solutions, large or small in scope, that have made a significant and positive difference in public health;

• Suggested new ways to improve the quality of services or programming;

• Identified novel approaches for completing work more effectively or efficiently;

• Identified new ideas, solutions, or directions;

• Worked to develop new approaches for problem solving;

• Planned effectively for the successful implementation and long-term success.

Nomination materials should clearly describe:



1. Improvement or increase in Efficiency, Productivity, Cost-Savings and Extraordinary achievement of health and well-being goals (individual or community) resulting from the project,

2. Originality - Is this a new idea, or a modernized redesign of an established concept? - Is it unique to the agency where it was established? - Is it unique to the field of public health? - Is it “ahead of its time”?

3. Impact - Will it make or has it made fundamental changes in public health practice/delivery? - How will it impact the community it is being implemented in?

4. Measurability - The impact of the project is measurable (i.e. number of beneficiaries, assessment of attitude or behavioral changes, clear policy changes, etc.

5. Applicability - Can it be generalized to the greater public health profession? - Could it lead to changes in how public health practices/processes are carried out?

Nominations for this award should include a written narrative addressing all of the above criteria and any supporting documentation that is relevant to the project that is being nominated. Narrative should also include the cover sheet at the link below. Click HERE for the COVER SHEET that must accompany all nominations for each award.