This award was established in 1982 to honor one the founding members of The American Hosta Society, Alex J. Summers of Bridgeville, Delaware.

The award is divided into two parts. The first honors a member of the AHS who has given outstanding service to the Society, the furtherance of the genus, Hosta or both.

The second aspect is that during the recipient's acceptance speech, he or she is to select a hosta and discuss its merits as an outstanding or significant plant in hostadom. This is the Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Hosta.

Alex J. Summers
Distinguished Merit Award

Alex J. Summers
Distinguished Merit Hosta
1982 - Alex J. Summers 1982 - H. 'Pearl Lake'
1984 - Peter Ruh 1984 - H. 'Antioch'
1985 - Warren Pollock 1985 - H. montana 'Aureomarginata'
1986 - Frances Williams 1986 - H. 'Frances Williams'
1987 - Diana Grenfell 1987 - H. 'Halcyon'
1988 - Mildred Seaver 1988 - H. 'Tokudama Aureonebulosa'
1989 - Eldren Minks 1989 - H. 'Platinum Tiara'
1990 - Jim Cooper 1990 - H. 'Sum and Substance'
1991 - Olive B. Langdon 1991 - H. 'Golden Sculpture'
1992 - Herb Benedict 1992 - H. 'Great Expectations'
1993 - Pauline Banyai 1993 - H. 'Gold Standard'
1994 - Robert Savory 1994 - H. 'Golden Tiara'
1995 - Russ O'Harra 1995 - H. 'Sagae'
1996 - George Schmid 1996 - H. laevigata
1997 - Clyde Crockett 1997 - H. nigrescens
1998 - Nancy Minks 1998 - H. 'Alvatine Taylor'
1999 - Kevin Vaughn 1999 - H. 'Breeder's Choice'
2000 - Mervin C. Eisel 2000 - H. 'June'
2001 - Mark Zilis 2001 - H. 'Krossa Regal'
2002 - Van R. Wade 2002 - H. 'American Halo'
2003 - Robert M. Solberg 2003 - H. 'Corkscrew'
2004 - Bob Olson 2004 - H. 'Bridegroom'
2005 - Kevin Walek 2005 - H. 'Guardian Angel'
2006 - C.H. Falstad III 2006 - H. plantaginea 'Aphrodite'
2007 - Jim Wilkins 2007 - H. 'Dorothy Benedict'
2008 - Donald Dean 2008 - H. 'Silver Bay'
2009 - Mary Schwartzbauer 2009 - H. ‘Her Eyes Were Blue’
2010 - Bob Axmear 2010 - H. 'Paradigm'
2011 - Harold McDonell 2011 - H. 'Spilt Milk'
2012 - Barbara Jones 2012 - H. 'Liberty'
2013 - Tom Micheletti 2013 - H. 'Thank You'
2014 - Kim Larsen 2014 - H. 'Minnesota Mafia'
2015 - Claudia Walker 2015 - H. 'One Man's Treasure'
2016 - Larry Tucker 2016 - H. 'Elvis Lives'
2017 - Mike Shadrack 2017 - H. 'Mike Shadrack'
2018 - Steven Greene 2018 - H. 'Reflected Glory'
2019 - Cindy Tomashek 2019 - H. 'Piedmont Honey'
2020 - No Award 2020 - No Award
2021 - Janet Mills 2021 - H. 'Lakeside Paisley Print'
2022 - Sandie Markland 2022 - H. 'Michael's Mud Pie'
 

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