Mark O. Hatfield Award
The Mark O. Hatfield Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service that has positively affected the citizens of Oregon. The Hatfield Award was established in 1996 in appreciation of retiring U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield for his career in public service. It is given when warranted in recognition of lifetime achievements having statewide impact by a person well-known to the residents of Oregon. Senator Hatfield passed away in August 2011 at the age of 89.
About Mark Hatfield
Mark Hatfield was a student, teacher and practitioner of American politics for nearly his entire life. While teaching political science and serving as dean of students at his alma mater, Willamette University in Salem, Hatfield began his political career in the Oregon Legislature in 1950. After two terms in the House of Representatives and two years in the Senate, he became the youngest secretary of state in Oregon history in 1956 at the age of 34. He was elected governor in 1958 and was re-elected in 1962.
In 1966, Hatfield was elected to the U.S. Senate as an outspoken critic of the war in Vietnam. In 1993, he became the longest-serving Senator from Oregon. At his retirement in 1997, he was the second-ranked Republican and seventh in seniority out of 100 in the full Senate. Hatfield never lost an election and was known as an independent legislator who voted his conscience, for which he earned bipartisan respect from his colleagues.
Eligibility
Highest Honor-Statewide and Lasting Impact
The Hatfield Award is presented to deserving individuals from the public or private sector who have provided lasting benefits to the quality of life for Oregon residents.
The Selection Process
Each year, a slate of judges is put forth by the Conference Coordinator and Member Services Director, who select candidates meeting the approved criteria. The slate is submitted first to the Executive Committee for approval and then to the full Board of Directors for final approval. The recommended slate consists of five judges and up to three alternates.
The committee consists of five judges, including past LOC presidents (who must have served at least three years and currently hold elected office), past or current LOC board members (past board members must have served three years and both past and current board members must currently hold elected or appointed office). Two mayors (who must currently serve on the LOC or Oregon Mayors Association Board) and one chief administrative officer (CAO) (who must be a current or former LOC board member).
If a judge is nominated for any of the three Exceptional Service Award, the judge will be replaced by an approved alternate. If a judge has submitted a nomination for an Exceptional Service Award, the judge must disclose the conflict and refrain from participating in the discussion or evaluation of that award. The judge may also choose to recuse themselves entirely, and an approved alternate will participate in their place.
The Exceptional Service Award nominations, including the Mark O. Hatfield Award, will be pre-screened by the LOC Executive Director, the Legislative Director, and one additional manager selected by the Executive Director. The purpose of this pre-screening is to eliminate any nominations that do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for each award, as outlined in the Eligibility and Criteria sections of this form. This process does not preclude the judges from determining that there are no eligible recipients in any award category. The selection committee is only permitted to grant the award to one nominee.
In making its selection, the selection committee will consider the following factors:
Criteria
- The nominee is held in high esteem by the public for unselfish devotion to the call of public service;
- The nominee is widely recognized for integrity, moral courage, and unwavering ethical standards;
- The nominee has demonstrated a high regard for human life through an awareness of human needs and compassionate service;
- The nominee exemplifies civility at all times, demonstrating personal respect for each individual’s potential and rights in a manner that has earned recognition and impact across Oregon;
- The nominee builds consensus across differing perspectives, with a firm belief that patience and negotiation can resolve conflicts and that America must be a model for peace;
- The nominee has a record of transformative leadership with sustained, statewide impact on public policy, civic life, or the quality of life in Oregon; and
- The nominee’s influence endures, with contributions that will continue to benefit Oregonians beyond their tenure of service.
Nominations
Nominations may be submitted by anyone, regardless of their involvement in city government. Submissions are due by Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 5:00 pm.