Pynchon Awards

Nominations Sought For Region’s Original Community Service Award

The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts has presented the William Pynchon Medal to more than 200 deserving individuals since 1915.

The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties for the Pynchon Award, which recognizes those citizens of our region who have rendered outstanding commitment to the community.

The Order of William Pynchon was established by the Advertising Club in 1915 to recognize and encourage individuals whose lives and achievements typified the ideals of promoting citizenship and the building of a better community in western Massachusetts. Past recipients include community volunteers, social activists, teachers, journalists, public servants, business leaders, philanthropists, historians, physicians, and war heroes — a diverse group united by their passion for our region. Pynchon nominees are people you know/live/work with, who are passionate about their community or cause, and give selflessly of their time, talent, or treasure (sometimes all three). Pynchon recipients are recognized for giving a little more and doing a little more, making them role models for community involvement. Though nominees may serve in a leadership role, they are just as likely to work anonymously or behind the scenes. The Pynchon award is not a recognition of “lifetime achievement” — age and length of service are unimportant — rather, it is depth of dedication and influence on the community that matters. A nominees’ impact need not be region-wide, just meaningful and impactful within the community, (and the trustees’ definition of “community” is broad, including neighborhoods, municipalities, and region). There are many people doing great things in our community … “unsung heroes,” if you will. This is your chance to sing their praises. A complete list of recipients since 1915 can be found below.

To nominate an individual, please submit a letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Be sure to include biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. The Pynchon Trustees respectfully reserve the right to eliminate nominations from consideration due to insufficient information.

Qualifying nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon Trustees, composed of the current and five past presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by March 31, 2023 to: William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022 or by e-mail to info@adclubwm.org.
Pynchon medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon Trustees. The 2023 recipients will be announced in June of this year, with an awards ceremony tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2023. Recipients are presented with a bronze medal cast with the name and likeness of Springfield’s founder, William Pynchon, and bearing the inscription: “They honor us whom we honor.”

More than 200 citizens have been inducted into the Order of William Pynchon since its founding in 1915.

The Order of William Pynchon
The Order of William Pynchon was established in 1915 by the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts (then known as the Publicity Club) for the purpose of giving public recognition to those citizens in the region who have rendered distinguished civic service.
Nominees are brought forth each year by members of the community and medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon Trustees. The Trustees of the Order of William Pynchon are the current and five past presidents of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts.

Trustees for 2022: Teresa Utt, David Cecchi, Mary Shea, Scott Whitney, Brenda McGiverin, and Kelly McGiverin.

The Pynchon medal bears the name of Springfield’s founder, whose life and achievements typify the ideals of promoting citizenship and the building of a better community, qualities the award is intended to recognize and encourage. Recipients are presented with a bronze medal bearing Pynchon’s likeness and inscribed with the quotation: “They honor us whom we honor.”

Previous Pynchon Award Events

Pynchon Recipients