Optometrist of the Year History
Each year the NOA presents an Optometrist of the Year Award to a member who has contributed his or her time and talent in the most outstanding manner for the betterment of the visual health and welfare of the public and to the profession of optometry during the past year.
| 2022 | Matt Willis, Omaha |
| 2021 | Kristin Reed, Omaha |
| 2020 | Andrew Bateman, Lincoln |
| 2019 | Teri Geist, Omaha |
| 2018 | Corey Langford, Omaha |
| 2017 | Chad Hudnall, Grand Island |
| 2016 | Christopher S. Wolfe, Omaha |
| 2015 | Christopher S. Wolfe, Omaha |
| 2014 | Scott Reins, Lincoln |
| 2013 | Robert Vandervort, Omaha |
| 2012 | Jeff Klein, Norfolk |
| 2011 | Jim Devine, Lincoln |
| 2010 | Steve Alcorn, Fremont |
| 2009 | Jerry Vaughan, Broken Bow |
| 2008 | Steve Wolfe, Omaha |
| 2007 | Craig McCormick, Holdrege |
| 2006 | Gary Pedersen, Grand Island |
| 2005 | Teri Geist, Omaha |
| 2004 | Ellen Weiss, Millard |
| 2003 | Steve Nicholson, Hastings |
| 2002 | Janet Fett, S. Sioux City |
| 2001 | Joe Shetler, Gordon |
| 2000 | Rick Bunger, Grand Island |
| 1999 | David Kincaid, South Sioux City |
| 1998 | Kim Baxter, North Platte |
| 1997 | Jim Devine, Lincoln |
| 1996 | Jim Kirchner, Lincoln |
| 1995 | Paul Salansky, Nebraska City |
| 1994 | Roger Filips, Hartington |
| 1993 | John Crotty, Auburn |
| 1992 | Richard Powell, Lincoln |
| 1991 | Jerry Vaughan, Broken Bow |
| 1990 | Wayne Quincy, Holdredge |
| 1989 | Dean Lauritzen, West Point |
| 1988 | Robert Livingston, Nebraska City |
| 1987 | Robert Vandervort, Omaha |
| 1986 | Steve Gradowski, Omaha |
| 1985 | Bernard Mullen, McCook |
| 1984 | Dean Lauritzen, West Point |
| 1983 | Ed Schneider, Lincoln |
| 1982 | John McBride, Omaha |
| 1981 | William Nolan, Omaha |
| 1980 | William Higgins, Lincoln |
| 1979 | Brad Williams, Lincoln |
| 1978 | Robert Sneller, Hastings |
| 1977 | Roger Dietz, Bellevue |
| 1976 | Paul Todd, Fremont |
| 1975 | Louis Amato, Plattsmouth |
| 1974 | Bill Koeber, Wayne |
| 1973 | Charles Gray, Columbus |
| 1972 | T.S. Heinecken, Beatrice |
| 1971 | Rudy Meyer, Lincoln |
| 1970 | Bernard Bauman, Alliance |
| 1969 | Bruce Ackerman, Fairbury |
| 1968 | Richard Macaluso, Fremont |
| 1967 | Bill Higgins, Lincoln |
| 1966 | Wade Nyquist, West Point |
| 1965 | Pat Ford, Scottsbluff |
