The Presidential Proclamation Recipients

2022

Toshiyuki Ogura
In recognition of his commitment to continued innovation in the display ecosystem. Ogura has been the driving force for new technology innovations in TV products at Sony for almost 40 years, most recently with innovations around 4K and 8K High Dynamic Range displays, leveraging a variety of display technologies (LCD, OLED, QD-OLED, “Crystal LED”, and Projector). During the introduction of 4K HDR into the ecosystem, Ogura oversaw the development of the Backlight Master Drive solution in BRAVIATM TVs, which established an industry bar in image quality for full-array backlight dimming for HDR on LCD displays. He has also been a very active collaborator and mentor, educating the industry about display innovations, and he regularly participates in industry activities, benefiting the entire ecosystem.

Dave Schunelle
In recognition of five decades of contributions to the Society and the media entertainment industry. Schnuelle has held several leadership positions within the SMPTE Standards Community and is a Life Fellow of the Society. His contributions have made a significant impact on cinema technology and have furthered SMPTE’s successful collaboration with other standards organizations.

Mitchell Baker
In recognition of her leadership as CEO of the Mozilla Foundation, innovating and adapting the organization to a rapidly changing ecosystem while remaining firmly grounded in its mission and core values of driving an open and democratized Internet. For more than two decades, Baker has led the industry by example, advocating for open source and data-privacy, and working collaboratively with individuals of different backgrounds to realize the vision of an Internet that benefits all.

2021

Ava DuVernay
For the creation and launch of Array Crew, an equal opportunity platform with the mission to support professionals from underrepresented populations in the film and television industries.

Anne Jacobsen
For her visionary leadership in establishing the Media Cluster in Bergen, Norway, as a cradle of innovation and global knowledge hub for media technology. The Norwegian Media Cluster is a world leader in augmented reality, graphics, artificial intelligence, virtual studios, broadcast, and IP- based video, robotics, and workflow and visual storytelling tools.

Franklin Leonard
For his founding of the Black List, the company committed to shining a light on extraordinary screenwriting through its annual survey of best unproduced screenplays, web portal connecting writers and industry professionals, community and educational resources including screenwriting labs, blog, live script readings, and industry partnerships.

Kohji Mitani
For his long tenure as head of NHK’s research and development department. In this role, he led the implementation of 8K and UHDTV and defined and implemented the STRL research vision for converging AI-Data, IP and cloud, accessibility, and immersive media.

Jayshree Ullal
For her leadership as CEO of one of the fastest growing cloud networking companies, which enables global video content creation and consumption. Her courageous leadership with a culture of innovation and teamwork has led Arista to great heights, with a dedicated strategy and commitment to execute on it.

2020
Leon D. Silverman

In recognition of his contributions to the Society and the media entertainment industry as a visionary, innovator, and mentor. Silverman has focused on our industry's evolving technology and its impact on innovation and workflow for more than 40 years. In his various industry roles, he has collaborated with colleagues to understand and address the challenges of an industry increasingly in the midst of technological transformation and how technology can enhance and contribute to the creative process. In his role as mentor, he continues to carry the future generations with him as he pushes the technology forward.

2019
Peter A. Dare

In recognition of his longtime dedication to the Society and more than 40 years of service to the Standards Community. As a member of numerous Drafting Groups, he has worked continuously to maintain the quality of standards and the work of the committees at a level of global excellence. Dare is a Life Fellow of SMPTE and the recipient of the first SMPTE Excellence in Standards Award in 2009. He has authored many standards related to the compression, encryption, and formatting of audiovisual content for storage on analog and digital tape and carriage across serial interfaces.

2018
Phil Laven
In recognition of his significant contributions to the broadcast industry. His wide-ranging career at the BBC between 1966 and 1997 included serving as chief engineer R&D and controller of engineering policy, making him instrumental in leading the BBC's policy on many technical initiatives, such as development and implementation of digital television and radio broadcasting in the U.K. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). Between 1997 and 2007, he was director of the European Broadcast Union (EBU) Technical Department based in Geneva. From 2008 to 2016, Laven chaired the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Steering Board. He also served as chair of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)/EBU Joint Technical Committee on broadcasting for 14 years and took on numerous other roles, such as chair of the Future of Broadcast TV initiative and treasurer of the WorldDAB Forum.

John Ross
In recognition of his pioneering work in the development of production switchers, signal processing, chroma keying, and analog and digital systems design. In 1955, while still a teenager, he created an advanced vacuum-tube production switcher with wipes and keys, the first of its kind in Canada. In 1963, Ross founded the broadcasting equipment division of Central Dynamics Ltd., where he built the world's first entirely solid-state production switcher and was granted a fundamental patent for the first chroma keyer to enable remote selection of any background color, rather than just blue. This invention directly led to the use of the green screen. He founded Ross Video Ltd. in 1974, where he developed a series of production switchers incorporating many revolutionary features now in common use. He also developed the first card-based high-quality 10-bit digital 4:2:2-to-analog encoder and decoder, which were selected by NASA for use on the International Space Station. Ross is also known as a great mentor of engineers, with industry leaders counted among his students. He is a SMPTE Fellow, Officer of the Order of Canada, and was awarded Honorary Membership by IABM.

2017
Mark Schubin
In recognition of his five decades of contributions to the television technology industry. An internationally recognized expert with an insatiable intellectual curiosity, Schubin has worked in every aspect of television production, including design, manufacturing, lighting, sound, camera, editing, distribution, as well as talent, and his projects have spanned every continent of the globe. Today, he supports the broadcasting of Metropolitan Opera (The Met) productions to cinemas and televisions around the world. Schubin is an active SMPTE Life Fellow and a sought-after resource in educating the industry on the history and current state of motion-imaging technology.

2016
Peter D. Symes
For his longtime dedication to the Society and his years of service to the broadcasting industry, during which he has been a consistent, influential and tireless contributor. A SMPTE Fellow, a recipient of the Citation for Outstanding Service to the Society, a founding member of the Sacramento Section and a long-term member of the Board of Governors, Mr. Symes has served the Society in a number of volunteer capacities; these include Section Chair, Regional Governor, Engineering Director, Engineering Vice President and Financial Vice President.  Since joining the staff in 2007 as the Director of Standards and Engineering, he streamlined the standards development process. Peter’s leadership and guidance were critical to the standards process and industry at a time when it was transitioning from film to digital cinema, from analog to digital television including, High Definition and higher resolutions, and through the transition from industry-specific technologies to internet-based workflows.

2015
Charles H. Jablonski
In recognition of his decades of contributions and leadership within the Society and the television industry at large. In addition to being a major contributor to the implementation of digital high definition television, he has dedicated his time in support of SMPTE's vision and mission, serving in executive, technical, educational and advisory roles over the past 30 years.  His wisdom, mentorship and sharp, ever-colorful wit have been instrumental in helping build SMPTE into the vibrant organization it is today.

2014
No Award Given

2013
William C. Miller
For contributions spanning decades and covering all aspects of the Society's key objectives in standards, education, and membership.  Mr. Miller has served in management roles including Governor, Section Chair, and Engineering Vice President, and has been a dedicated contributor in countless standards, conference, and Section activities.  Mr. Miller recently pioneered a program, in which he matched donations made by other SMPTE members to pay for student memberships.  More than 250 students are now members as a result.  Mr. Miller truly represents the best of SMPTE, as illustrated by his selfless commitment of both time and money, demonstrating an outstanding belief in the value and future of the Society.

2012
No Award Given

2011
Douglas Trumbull
For his more than four and a half decades of pioneering work in visual effects photography and ground-breaking innovation in motion picture technologies.  As a film director, special effects supervisor and inventor, Mr. Trumbull has established himself as a respected visionary in the development of important new photographic processes and technologies. Among his many accomplishments, he conducted pioneering biometric research into the audience response to high frame-rate imaging.  This contributed to his dedicated and persistent work in the development of ShowScan, a novel cinematic process using 65mm film at 60 frames per second, resulting in an image with extraordinary high definition as well as smoother and more realistic rendering of motion.  His work continues today with new inventions in digital stereoscopic 3D high-frame rate imaging system.

2010
No Award Given.

2009
No Award Given.

2008
No Award Given.

2007
Edgar A. Schuller
For over 55 years of wide ranging work in the motion picture industry developing methods for film distribution and video projection  From Chief Instructor of the U.S. Army’s Motion Picture Sound Recording School in the early 1950s to supervising construction of motion picture film laboratories, to developing the first commercial 16mm contact liquid printing system in 1961, through his formation of Cartridge Display Systems supplying large screen projection systems to entertainment and education venues, Ed has been a pioneer in developing applications and processes to further the distribution of motion imaging.

2006
No Award Given.

2005
No Award Given.

2004
American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)
Celebrating its 85 years of advancing the art of cinematography through its ideals of "loyalty, progress and artistry."

2003
Masura "Mac" Jibiki
Retired from Fuji Photo Film Co. in 2003, after a 37-year tenure. He contributed significantly to building new film stocks such as the industry's first high-speed color negative, Fuji 500T speed product. Jibiki held numerous positions at Fuji in both the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., he worked as sole North American technical manager, where he was responsible for handling customer concerns and testing new film products. He was also the chief liaison between the manufacturing facility and end users. In Japan, he worked on the F-Series of color-negative film products that were introduced in the late 1980s. Jibiki has served on SMPTE Standards committees and the Fuji Gold Medal Award committee.

2002
Benjamin J. Homenick (posthumous award)
Served as audio-visual chair at the last three technical conferences held in New York and served the New York Section for many years in numerous positions. Homenick was director of the Nassau County Police Department's Visual Communications Unit for 21 years, where he was responsible for all aspects of engineering, ranging from equipment specifications to operations. He oversaw the development of full-scale production facilities, which included a large television studio. Homenick was a founding and board member of the Long Island Film and TV Museum, a member of the AES, the Long Island Chapter of Media Communications Associates, and the Law Enforcement Video Association.

Vincent T. Slavin (posthumous award)
Began his career as a teenager working in Buffalo, NY, at local movie houses; later becoming a theater projectionist. Since the mid-60s he had operated his own production house, producing educational and training programs for industrial and commercial productions. In 1999 Slavin was presented with the Citation for Outstanding Service to the Society Award for his contributions to the Rochester Section. Prior to his death, Slavin had been reelected as Chairman of the Rochester Section. For over 11 years, he had organized the outstanding Student Film and Video Festival for New York State students. In his honor, the festival has since been renamed the Vincent T. Slavin Student Film and Video Festival.

Dominic J. Case
Manager, Group Technology & Services, Atlab Australia, is currently responsible for technology developments and quality control programs across the company's five laboratories. A SMPTE Fellow, Case has been an active participant in Society affairs, serving as a Manager, Section Chair, and International Governor. He is the author of two books on film processing and post-production and is a frequent presenter at SMPTE conferences, having had a number of papers published in the SMPTE Journal.

2001
Gerald R. Finn
For his tireless involvement in local as well as national activities of SMPTE. In 1981, he founded the Pasadena City College Student Chapter. As its faculty advisor, he has mentored countless young men and women who will become the future leaders of the film and television industries. Gerald Finn exemplifies what SMPTE stands for in the area of education.

2000
Klaus Landsberg (posthumous award)
In recognition of his innovative leadership in the advancement of the medium of television. He was involved in the development of television technology from the 1930's until his death in 1956.

D. Peter Owen
In recognition of his involvement in groundbreaking developments across digital effects, graphics, editing, and post production in Quantel, and for leading the company's transition into digital film with Domino digital film optical system. Owen has been involved in many standards groups and representative bodies and has been an active and influential member of the industry's key organizations around the world.

1999
No Award Given.

1998
No Award Given.

1997
Richard J. Stumpf
In recognition of his long established and outstanding status and reputation in the motion picture and television industry, and his many years of contributions to the advancement of the sciences of motion imaging.

1996
Jerry Lewis
In recognition of his many years of experience and dedication to the motion picture and television fields. He has provided new tools, methods, and systems for direction photography, and sound/music recording.

1995
Daniel Castles
In recognition of his leadership in the television industry and his support of SMPTE and its standards work, particularly in the area of component and serial digital television signals and operations.

Leo J. Thomas
For his dedication to SMPTE and to motion pictures. As a scientist, he has led efforts to advance motion-imaging technology; as a business leader, he has driven the success of Kodak and the industry; and as a friend of SMPTE, he has provided insights into the future.
Akio Morita, for his vision and contribution to the electronics industry; he not only contributed to establishing Sony as a leader in electronics but also championed a movement to improve relations between Japan and the U.S.

1994
No Award Given.

1993
Richard C. Kirby
In recognition of his years of dedicated service to the international community and his innovative leadership in the advancement of the telecommunications sciences and the pursuit of global standards.

George T. Waters
For his leadership in expanding the interchange of technical information between the EBU and the SMPTE, thereby fostering and increasing the opportunities for achieving compatible worldwide television standards.

1992
Ronald W. Jarvis
In recognition of his leadership in directing many technical film innovations and for his encouragement and support of employee participation in the SMPTE.

Howard Miller
In recognition of his continued pursuit of new technology and his active support of SMPTE and other industry engineering committees.

Charles A. Steinberg
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the industry and of his long-term support of SMPTE activities.

1991
Brian D. Baldry
In recognition of his many years of dedicated engineering leadership in the television industry and his continuing support of SMPTE activities.

Julius Barnathan
In recognition of his innovative leadership in the advancement of television technology, including guidance of the technical production of nine broadcasts of the Olympics and contributions to the technology for closed-captioning for the hearing-impaired.

J. R. (Dick) Monaco
In recognition of his continuing lifelong commitment to innovative technical improvements within the motion picture and video industries and his many years of support for SMPTE activities.

Burton (Bud) Stone
For his dedicated involvement within the motion picture industry. Mr. Stone is responsible for much of the progress of the film laboratory technology.

1990
James C. McKinney
In recognition of his years of dedicated service to the television industry and his most recent outstanding leadership in the U.S. advanced television activities and the pursuit of global standards for high-definition television production and emission standards.

Bengt O. Orhall
In recognition of his innovative leadership in the motion picture and television laboratory industry and for his significant contributions to the Society as International Governor. His initiatives resulted in the formation of the Nordic SMPTE Section.

Michael J. Sherlock
In recognition of his outstanding contributions and leadership in the advancement of television technology and for his continued support of SMPTE activities.

1989
Angelo D'Alessio
In recognition of his many years of diligent effort, resulting in the formation of the Italian SMPTE Section, the first in continental Europe.

Joseph Roizen (posthumously)
In recognition of his significant technical contributions to the motion picture and television industries and for his many years of active and valued participation in SMPTE activities.

Nobutada Yagi
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to education in motion picture and television technology and for his dynamic role in the continuing liaison and cooperative endeavors between Motion Picture and Television Engineers of Japan and the SMPTE.

1988
John Barry
In recognition of his innovative leadership in the motion picture industry worldwide and his many years of support in SMPTE activities.

Roland G. F. Chase
In recognition of his technical and management leadership in the motion picture industry and his years of support of the SMPTE and its sister society, the BKSTS.

Robert M. Smith
In recognition of his technical leadership in the motion picture and television laboratory industries and his many years of continued support in SMPTE activities.

Heinrich L. Zahn
In recognition of his many years of technical innovation and leadership in the television industry and his years of support in SMPTE activities.

1987
Richard R. Green
In recognition of his technical leadership in the Public Broadcasting Service and his many years of support in SMPTE activities.

William A. Koch
In recognition of his many years of innovative leadership in the motion picture industry and his continuing strong support in SMPTE activities.

Findlay J. Quinn
In recognition of his technical leadership in the development of a strong motion picture laboratory industry in Canada and for his many years of continuing support in SMPTE activities.

1986
Herbert E. Farmer
In recognition of the many years he has contributed towards the advancement of educational opportunities for engineering students.

Guy Gougeon
In recognition of his outstanding engineering leadership, and for his continued support of SMPTE activities in general and to the Canadian Sections in particular.

Daniel E. Slusser
In recognition of his significant role in supporting the first spring tutorial of the Hollywood Section in 1984, and his continuing support of Society activities.

1985
Harold Greenberg
In recognition of his many contributions in the development of a strong and growing Canadian film industr, and for his continuous support of SMPTE activities.

William H. Smith
In recognition of his continuing dedication to the use of motion pictures, slides, and filmstrips in audiovisual communications.

Joseph D. Kelly
In recognition of his lifelong technological and innovative leadership in the fields of sound recording and processing for the motion picture and television industries.

1984
Edward H. Reichard
For his active support of the SMPTE over many years, and his outstanding contributions as a motion picture engineer during his career.

David W. Samuelson
For his support of the industry on an international level, and his long-standing contributions as a writer and lecturer.

1983
No Award Given.

1982
Norman R. Grover
In recognition of his technical leadership in the CBC and for his many years of support in SMPTE activities.    

Carlo Terzani
For his leadership in expanding the interchange of technical information between the EBU and SMPTE - thereby increasing opportunities for achieving compatible worldwide television standards.