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2024 Call for Nominations

The NLSSA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for NCSL's Legislative Staff Achievement Award (LSAA). This award may be given to an individual or an office from each NCSL staff association in recognition of their legislative work. 

Do you know of an NLSSA member, or services or security office in a legislature who has demonstrated a commitment to services, security, NLSSA, NCSL or their legislature? If so, please submit a one-page nomination to the NLSSA Awards Committee explaining why the individual or office should receive this award. 

All nominations must be received by May 10, 2024. Nominations can be addressed to the NLSSA Awards Committee. Please submit your nominee to: [email protected]. 

Additional information on this award, as well as NLSSA’s two other association specific awards, can be found below. 

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Legislative Staff Achievement Award

Award Criteria

NLSAA recipients should demonstrate one or more of the following criteria: 

  • Helps improve the effectiveness of the legislative institution. 
  • Supports the legislative process and the mission of the legislature. 
  • Exhibits a high degree of professionalism, competence and integrity in serving the legislature and the public. 
  • Contributes to the work of the National Conference of State Legislatures. 
  • Demonstrates expertise in a particular field. 
  • Contributes to existing knowledge. 
  • Contributes to the success of NLSSA. 

The National Legislative Services and Security Association may give the Legislative Staff Achievement Award to recognize individual members and/or member offices for excellence in legislative work. Two recipients may be nominated each year to receive this award. The selection process must be equitable and open to all NLSSA members. This can be awarded to a group or office as well as an individual.

Previous Award Recipients

Year

Recipient

Location Awarded
2023
  • Bradley Murfitt, sergeant at arms, Montana House of Representatives
  • Claude McMillan, assistant director of security for the Gressette Building, South Carolina Senate
 Charleston
2022
  • Adam Elias, director of state house security, Massachusetts Bureau of the State House
  • Elizabeth Garzone, visitor services assistant director, Texas State Preservation Board
 Boston
2021
  • Dustin Morgan, deputy sergeant at arms, Florida Senate
  • Lawrence Scott, deputy sergeant at arms and supervisor, South Carolina Senate
 Helena
2020
  • Derek Hamilton, chief of the Security Force, Alabama House of Representatives
  • Matt Romei, chief of the Capitol Police, Vermont
 Helena
2019
  • Tim Hay, sergeant at arms, Florida Senate
  • David Sauceda, sergeant at arms, Texas House of Representatives
 Florida
2018
  • Lisa Macaulay, Senate assistant sergeant at arms, Wisconsin
  • Rick DeLeon, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas
 Virginia

2017
  • Lenore Adams, Facilities and Continuity, Legislative Services Division, Montana
  • Steve Pike, chief, Capitol Police, Virginia

Nevada

2016
  • Virginia Drew, State House Visitor Center, New Hampshire
  • Richard Webb, Senate doorkeeper, South Carolina

Washington, D.C.

2015
  • Betsy Hossenlopp, Senate Nurse and Legislative Health Services director, South Carolina
  • Tim Flynn, Capitol nurse practioner, Texas

New Mexico

2014
  • Jeff Weaver, General Assembly chief of police, North Carolina
  • Chuck Williams, Senate chief deputy sergeant at arms, South Carolina

North Carolina

2013
  • Martin Brock, Assembly Capitol Police, North Carolina
  • Sam Smith, Senate Security, Alabama

Texas

2012
  • Carl Barnhart, Senate Security, Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

2011
  • Ted Blazel, Senate sergeant at arms, Wisconsin

Colorado

2010
  • Ken Scheer, lieutenant, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas

Louisiana

2009
  • Alabama State Legislature, Alabama

South Carolina

2008
  • Jimmetta Peoples, Senate Security, Alabama
  • Glenda Smith, director of accounting, California

Concord 

2007
  • Sandra Dicke, House chief sergeant at arms, Minnesota
  • Tony Beard, Senate chief sergeant at arms, California

Alabama

2006
  • Clarence Russ, chief sergeant at arms, Louisiana
  • Rowena "Roni" Low, administrative assistant, Sergeant at Arms, Hawaii

Ohio

2005
  • Greg Schmidt, secretary of the Senate, California
  • Roderick Welsh, House sergeant at arms, Texas

Louisiana (Canceled)

2004
  • Dennis Trimble, deputy director, Buildings and Grounds, Ohio
  • Andrea Faber, director, Capitol Visitor Services, Pennsylvania

California

2003
  • Dina Hidalgo, Senate director of personnel, California
  • George Mason, chief, Capitol Police, Virginia

Virginia

2002
  • William F. Morgan, Jr., chief, Capitol Police, Connecticut
  • Earnest W. Sumner, House sergeant at arms, Florida

Florida

2001
  • Kevin M. Ebata, House sergeant at arms, Hawaii
  • Jon H. Hochkammer, Senate sergeant at arms, Wisconsin

No Meeting Held

2000
  • Steve Watson, chief deputy director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada
  • Carleton Turner, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas

Wisconsin

1999
  • John Gentrey, House chief sergeant at arms, Louisiana
  • Wayne Todd, Jr., Senate sergeant at arms, Florida

Missouri

1998
  • Tony Beard, Jr., Senate chief sergeant at arms, California
  • Art Palmer, retired director, Legislative Council Bureau, Nevada

Hawaii

1997
  • Jim Melton, Senate sergeant at arms, South Carolina

New Hampshire

Tony Beard Memorial Award

Recipient must have spent many years serving NLSSA, or someone who has exerted an extraordinary effort on behalf of the association. This award is a lifetime achievement award and is the most coveted of all NLSSA awards Careful consideration should be given to the selection of possible candidates for nomination.

Year

Recipient

Location Awarded

2023

Virginia Drew

South Carolina

2022

No award presented this year.

Massachusetts

2021

Martin Brock, chief of police, North Carolina General Assembly

Montana

2020

John Hancock, chief (retired), Bureau of Protective Services, South Carolina Department of Public Safety

Virtual

2019

Anthony "Steve" Pike, chief of police, Virginia

Florida

2018

Rick DeLeon, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas

Virginia

2017

No award presented this year.

Nevada

2016

Chuck Williams, Senate assistant sergeant at arms, South Carolina

Washington, D.C.

2015

Don Severance, Senate sergeant at arms, Florida

New Mexico

2014

 No award presented this year.

North Carolina

2013

Clarence Russ, House sergeant at arms, Louisiana

Texas

2012

 No award presented this year.

 

2011

Roderick Welsh, House sergeant at arms, Texas

Colorado

2010

 No award presented this year.

 

2009

 No award presented this year.

 

2008

Earnie Sumner, House sergeant at arms, Florida

New Hampshire

2007

Oce Smith, House sergeant at arms, West Virginia

Alabama

2006

George Mason, retired chief, Capitol Police, Virginia

Ohio

2005

Meeting canceled due to Hurricane Katrina, no award given.

Louisiana

2004

 No award presented this year.

 

2003

William F. Morgan Jr., chief, Capitol Police, Connecticut

Virginia

2002

Steve Watson, chief deputy director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada

Florida

2001

Kevin M. Ebata, House sergeant at arms, Hawaii

No Meeting Held

2000

Carleton Turner, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas

Wisconsin

1999

Wayne Todd, Jr., Senate sergeant at arms, Florida

Missouri

1998

Tony Beard, Jr., Senate chief sergeant at arms, California

Hawaii

1997

Jim Melton, Senate sergeant at arms, South Carolina

New Hampshire

1996

Tommy Townsend, former Senate chief sergeant at arms, Texas

Texas

1995

Warren Leary, retired House sergeant at arms, New Hampshire

Pennsylvania

1994

John Everhardt, retired Senate sergeant at arms, New York

Nevada

1993

Sen. Lawrence Jacobsen, Nevada

South Carolina

John Everhardt "Trooper" Award

Recipient must have done something outstanding in their state that supported the legislative process and improved the effectiveness of the legislative institution, and/or, who has been a long-standing member of NLSSA who has shown the qualities of professionalism and integrity.

Year

Recipient

Location Awarded
2023

Richard Webb

 South Carolina
2022

Brenda Erickson, program principal, NCSL

 Massachusetts
2021 Lenore Adams, facility and continuity coordinator, Montana Legislature Montana
2020 No award presented this year.  
2019 Martin Brock, chief of legisaltive police, North Carolina Florida
2018 Anthony "Steve" Pike, chief of Capitol police, Virginia Virginia

2017

John Hancock, Protective Services Division, South Carolina

Nevada

2016

Dennis Clark, sergeant at arms, Ontario

Washington, D.C.

2015

Chuck Williams, chief deputy sergeant at arms, South Carolina
Rick DeLeon, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas

New Mexico

2014

Virginia Drew, State House Visitor Center, New Hampshire

North Carolina

2013

Jimmetta Peoples, Senate security, Alabama

Texas

2012

Morgan Cullen, NCSL liaison to NLSSA

Wisconsin

2011

Carl Barnhart, Senate security, Pennsylvania

Colorado

2010

 No award presented this year.

 

2009

 No award presented this year.

 

2008

Rod Welsh, House sergeant at arms, Texas

Concord

2007

 No award presented this year.

 

2006

Clarence Russ, House chief sergeant at arms, Louisiana

Ohio

2005

No award presented this year .

 

2004

Tony Beard Jr., Senate chief sergeant at arms, California

California

2003

Earnest W. Sumner, House sergeant at arms, Florida

Carleton Turner, Senate sergeant at arms, Texas

Virginia

2002

William F. Morgan Jr., chief, Capitol Police, Connecticut

Florida

2001

Steve Watson, chief deputy director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada

No Meeting Held

2000

Jim Melton, Senate sergeant at arms, South Carolina

Wisconsin

1999

Jim Woods, Senate sergeant at arms, Kansas

Missouri

1998

Kae Warnock, NCSL liaison to NLSSA

Hawaii

1997

 No award presented this year.

 

1996

 No award presented this year.

 

1995

 No award presented this year.

 

1994

Art Palmer, retired director, Legislative Council Bureau, Nevada

Nevada

1993

 No award presented this year.

 

1992

John Everhardt, retired Senate sergeant at arms, New York

Arizona

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