Harold M. Hildreth was a longtime friend of Div. 18. A division president in 1958 and APA Council member for the division from 1953–1956, Hildreth seemed to be naturally inclined toward public service and spent much of his life devoting himself to the application of psychology to wide areas of endeavor. He described himself as having special research interests in socially sensitive areas. His diverse clinical activities ranged from helping to develop police training films, to interests in suicide, homosexuality, and emergency mental health services. He was the second person to serve as the chief clinical psychologist in the Department of Veteran Affairs (1948–1956) and followed that appointment with a distinguished career in the Community Research and Service Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health. He served as a model for dedication and achievement in serving the public.
Hildreth was described by those who knew him as an extraordinary leader who made you believe in the importance of psychology and who had a fantastic memory for personal events which endeared him to others. Beyond personal qualities and interpersonal skills, it was Hildreth’s role as a visionary which constituted his major contribution and which set him apart from his contemporaries. He sketched a glorious, yet eminently believable, future for psychology. Responding to his charisma and infectious enthusiasm, his more practical-minded associates eagerly enlisted in the effort to apply psychology to bettering the human condition.
It was singularly appropriate that, upon his death in 1965, the division established an award for outstanding public service to the public in his memory. The Harold M. Hildreth Award for Distinguished Public Service has remained the highest award that the division could bestow.
This award is for an individual whose work has, over a lifetime career, greatly benefitted public mental health. This person is recognized nationally for their expertise and commitment to public service psychology. Nominees will have demonstrated their service through some of the following areas:
To submit a nomination, please provide the following:
Calls for division award nomination materials are emailed via the PUBSERV membership list early spring annually. The submission due date is May 31st annually. Please submit nomination materials to president@publicservicepsych.org.
2024
None
2023
Tara Pir, Ph.D.
2022
None
2021
Anne Klee, PhD
2020
Jeffrey L. Goodie, PhD, ABPP
2019
Mary A. Jansen, PhD
2018
Dave Corey, PhD
2017
Daniel R. Kivlahan, PhD
2016
Randy E. Phelps, PhD
2015
Lorraine Williams Greene, PhD, ABPP
2014
Joel A. Dvoskin, PhD
2013
Ellen Scrivner
2012
Terence Keane
2011
Russell Lemle
2010
Rodney R. Baker
2009
Guy Seymour and Robert Ax
2008
Robert Fein
2007
Scotty Hardgrove
2006
Walter E. Penk
2005
Carol T. Mowbray
2004
Herbert Dorken
2003
Paul E. Gendreau
2002
Ronald F. Levant
2001
Edward Mulvey
2000
Dale L. Johnson
1999
Frederick J. Frese, III
1998
Harriet P. Lefley
1997
J. Wilbert Edgerton
1996
Alice F. Chang
1995
Bruce D. Sales
1994
Lee B. Sechrest
1993
Patricia F. Waller
1992
Gary B. Melton
1991
Robert L. Custer and John E. Davis, Jr.
1990
Charles Windle
1989
Alfred M. Wellner
1988
Asher R. Pacht
1987
Durand F. Jacobs
1986
James Grier Miller
1985
Patrick H. Deleon
1984
No award presented
1983
Charles A. Stenger
1982
Cecil P. Peck
1981
Stanley Schneider
1980
No award presented
1979
Betty H. Pickett
1978
Herman Feifel
1977
Lee Gurel
1976
Milton W. McCullough
1975
Henry P. David
1974
No award presented
1973
Margaret Ives
1972
Norman I., Farberow
1971
Henry W. Riecken
1970
Jerry W. Carter
1969
Marucie G. Kott
1968
John C. Eberhart
1967
Joseph M. Bobbitt
1966
Edwin S. Shneidman
