2007: Peter Conrad, Brandeis University

2006: Barbara Katz Rothman, Baruch College, CUNY Graduate Center

2005:  Robert Perrucci, Purdue University

2004:  Mary Romero, Arizona State University

2003:  Walda Katz-Fishman, Howard University and Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty
           & Genocide
           Jerome Scott, Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide

2002:  Thomas J. Scheff, University of California, Santa Barbara

2001:  Valerie Jenness, University of California, Irvine

2000:  Beth B. Hess, County College of Morris 
          Norma Williams, University of Texas at Arlington

1999:  Gary L. Albrecht, University of Illinois, Chicago

1998:  John I. Kitsuse, University of California, Santa Cruz

1997:  Irwin Deutscher, University of Akron

1996:  No Winner Chosen

1995:  Gideon Sjoberg, University of Texas

1994:  Joyce A. Ladner, Howard University

1993:  Irving Kenneth Zola, Brandeis University

1992:  Marvin B. Sussman, University of Delaware

1991:  Richard Cloward, Columbia University 
          Francis Fox Piven, CUNY, Graduate Center

1990:  Louis Kriesberg, Syracuse University

1989:  Arlene Kaplan Daniels, Northwestern University

1988:  James E. Blackwell, University of Massachusetts, Boston

1987:  John Useem, SSSP Life Member 
          Ruth Hill Useem, SSSP Life Member

1986:  Jessie Bernard, Pennsylvania State University

1985:  Butler Jones, Cleveland State University

1984:  Elliot Liebow, National Institute of Mental Health

1983:  Charles V. Willie, Harvard University

1982:  S. M. Miller, Boston University
          Joan Moore, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee