Toastmasters International Honors Richard Lederer
a.k.a. “Conan the Grammarian” and “Attila the Pun”
In May, 2002, in recognition of his ability and influence as a writer and public speaker, Richard Lederer, Ph.D., of San Diego, Calif., was selected as the recipient of Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel Award.
Dr. Lederer was presented with the award during a luncheon in his honor on Thursday, Aug. 22, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas, as part of Toastmasters’ 71 st Annual International Convention.
The Golden Gavel is the most prestigious award offered to non-Toastmasters by Toastmasters International, a nonprofit, worldwide organization devoted to teaching public speaking skills. The award is presented to a distinguished individual in the fields of communication and leadership. Past recipients include Walter Cronkite, Anthony Robbins, Mark Russell, Art Linkletter, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Deepak Chopra, Dr. Robert Schuller, and management experts Tom Peters, Kenneth Blanchard, and Harvey Mackay.
For more information, go to the Toastmasters International website.
Past Golden Gavel recipients:
Toastmasters’ most prestigious award presented to non-Toastmasters is the Golden Gavel. For the past 53 years, it has been given annually to an individual distinguished in the fields of communication and leadership. The award is presented at the Toastmasters International Convention, during a dinner in the recipient’s honor.
| Year | Recipient | Industry | |||
| 2011 | Robin Sharma | Leadership expert, author, speaker | |||
| 2010 | Carolyn Kepcher | Author, TV personality, businesswoman | |||
| 2009 | Bruce Tulgan | Author, founder and chairman of RainmakerThinking | |||
| 2008 | Pamela Wallin | Canadian journalist and media personality | |||
| 2007 | Barbara De Angelis | Radio Personality, author | |||
| 2006 | Jim Kouzes | Leadership Expert, author, speaker | |||
| 2005 | Marcus Buckingham | Leadership expert, author, speaker | |||
| 2004 | Dr. Stephen Covey | Author; Co-Founder, Franklin Covey Company | |||
| 2003 | Debbie Fields Rose | Author; Founder, Mrs. Fields Cookies | |||
| 2002 | Dr. Richard Lederer | Author, Communication and Leadership Expert | |||
| 2001 | Jim Cathcart | Author, speaker, human-development expert | |||
| 2000 | Nido Qubein | Speaker, consultant, entrepreneur | |||
| 1999 | Zig Ziglar | Speaker, author | |||
| 1998 | Jeanne Robertson | Speaker, humorist | |||
| 1997 | Dr. Deepak Chopra | Author, speaker | |||
| 1996 | Dr. LeRoy Walker | President, U.S. Olympic Committee | |||
| 1995 | Tony Robbins | Author, seminar leader | |||
| 1994 | Les Brown | Motivational speaker | |||
| 1993 | Peter Legge | Speaker, publisher | |||
| 1992 | Dr. Kenneth H. Blanchard | Author, management expert | |||
| 1991 | Bill Gove | Professional speaker, seminar leader | |||
| 1990 | Tom Peters | Author, management expert | |||
| 1989 | Joel H. Weldon | Professional speaker, seminar leader | |||
| 1988 | Grace M. Hopper | Rear Admiral, USNR (Retired), Computer pioneer | |||
| 1987 | Dr. Wayne Dyer | Psychologist, author, speaker | |||
| 1986 | Art Linkletter | Author, speaker, TV personality | |||
| 1985 | Marva Collins | Educator | |||
| 1984 | Dr. Charles W. Jarvis | Humorist, lecturer | |||
| 1983 | Mark Russell | Humorist, writer, lecturer | |||
| 1982 | Dr. Joyce Brothers | Psychologist, author, speaker | |||
| 1981 | James L. Hayes | Management expert, speaker | |||
| 1980 | Dr. Kenneth McFarland | Philanthropist, lecturer, author | |||
| 1979 | Bob Richards | Motivational speaker, Olympic champion | |||
| 1978 | Dr. Robert H. Schuller | Theologian, author, lecturer | |||
| 1977 | Gordon Sinclair | Newsman, broadcaster, author | |||
| 1976 | Earl Nightingale | Internationally known broadcaster, author | |||
| 1975 | John W. Warner | Administrator, American Revolution Bicentennial Administration | |||
| 1974 | Bobby Richardson | Speaker, athletic coach | |||
| 1973 | Dr. S.I. Hayakawa | Author, lecturer | |||
| 1972 | Cavett Robert | Author, lecturer | |||
| 1971 | Wallace Jamie | Director of International Public Relations, Carnation Company | |||
| 1969 | Walter Cronkite | Distinguished newsman and journalist | |||
| 1968 | Greer Garson | Internationally known stage, screen and television personality | |||
| 1967 | John W. Fisher | Commissioner and Chairman of the Board, Canadian Centennial Commission | |||
| 1966 | Eugene J. McNeeley | Former President, AT&T | |||
| 1965 | Robert Moses | City Planner and President, New York World’s Fair of 1964-65 | |||
| 1964 | Lowell Thomas | Writer, commentator, lecturer | |||
| 1963 | Dr. Ralph C. Smedley | Founder, Toastmasters International | |||
| 1962 | Reed Harris | Executive Assistant to the Director, U.S. Information Agency | |||
| 1961 | Eric Johnston | President, Motion Picture Association of America | |||
| 1960 | Joseph N. Welch | Eminent Boston Attorney | |||
| 1959 | Dr. Frank C. Baxter | Professor Emeritus, USC; television personality |