The Ben F. Dickerson, III Award, established in 1987, recognizes professionalism and contributions to the mining industry. Election to this honor is by the Mining & Exploration Division Executive Committee with notification to the SME Executive Committee.
Ben F. Dickerson, III was a member of AIME/SME from 1962 until his death in 1987. He served on the Board of Directors and was Chair of the M&E Division. He will be remembered for his numerous "Rock in the Box" columns which he began writing in 1980, and also for the humor, wit and satire of his "News and Rumor from the Bush" articles featured in Skillings Magazine.
He believed in professionalism and encouraged his employees to participate in professional societies in order to grow in their profession. Besides AIME/SME, he was a member of SEG, GSA (Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits), SIMM, AIPG, Colorado Mining Association, Northwest Mining Association, Mining Club of the Southwest, Mining Club of New York, and the Arizona Geological Society, to name just a few. He abhorred ignorance and apathy. His curiosity was boundless; he never stopped asking "Why?"
- 2023 - Dean R. Gehring
- 2022 - Scott P. Lawson
- 2021 - George Sturgis
- 2020 - Red Conger
- 2019 - Daniel T. Eyde
- 2018 - Robert V. Washnock
- 2017 - Douglas B. Silver
- 2016 - Donald R. Taylor
- 2015 - Raja P. Upadhyay
- 2014 - Larry Smith
- 2013 - M. Stephen Enders
- 2012 - Thomas Patton
- 2011 - Ernie Black
- 2010 - Gregory McKelvey
- 2009 - John J. Ellis
- 2008 - Thomas E. Finch
- 2007 - Frederick T. Graybeal
- 2006 - Siegfried Muessig
- 2005 - Ernest K. Lehmann
- 2004 - Odin D. Christensen
- 2003 - Clarence J. Wendt
- 2002 - Russell C. Babcock
- 2001 - Walter E. Heinrichs, Jr.
- 2000 - William C. Peters
- 1999 - Wayne S. Cavender
- 1998 - Ted H. Eyde
- 1997 - Donald W. Kohls
- 1996 - Joseph E. Worthington
- 1995 - James H. Bright
- 1993 - T S Ary
- 1992 - Charles L. Dahl
- 1991 - J. Michael Canty
- 1990 - Willard C. Lacy
- 1989 - William C. Epler
- 1988 - Robert L. Bates
- 1987 - Severn P. Brown
For more information, please contact SME at awards@smenet.org.