Joe Dey served as the USGA's executive director from 1934-69.
Presented annually since 1996, the Joe Dey Award recognizes an individual's meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. It is named for Joseph C. Dey Jr., who served as the USGA's executive director from 1934-69 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975.
Below is a full list of Joe Dey Award recipients.
1996 – Charles N. Eckstein
1997 – John Staver
1998 – Joe King
1999 – Frank Anglim
2000 – Jack Emich
2001 – Bill Dickey
2002 – Clyde Luther
2003 – John Hanna
2004 – Adele Lebow
2005 – Pearl Carey
2006 – Bob Hooper
2007 – Harry McCracken
2008 – Gene McClure
2009 – Dick Rundle
2010 – Joe Luigs
2011 – Inez Muhleman
2012 – Stan Grossman
2013 – Taizo Kawata
2014 – Michael Cumberpatch
2015 – Dr. David Cookson
2016 – Keith Hansen
2017 – Jayne Watson
2018 – Gib Palmer
2019 – Tom Dudley
2020 – Lon Haskew
2021 – No Award Given (COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 – Ede Rice
2023 – Robin Farran
2024 – E. Lee Coble
2025 – David Jacobsen