Established in 1990. The James D. Walker Memorial Award is presented from time to time to an individual or entity outside our organization who makes it possible for blind people to live as first-class citizens in society. Jim Walker, for whom the award is named, not only served as a well-loved, highly respected and sometimes controversial State President of this organization from 1980 to 1984, but also he pioneered the empowering method of thinking outside the box which we now refer to as structured discovery, giving blind people the tools for taking charge of their own lives. He held various positions at the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired from May of 1976 until his untimely sudden death due to a heart attack at the age of 45 in 1989. Past Recipients: 1990 American Charter Federal Savings and Loan Association 1997 Lucent Pioneers 2005 Ideal Grocery 2010 Empolyees of the Homestead National Monument of America (Beatrice, NE) 2011 Ward and Kathy Kinney and Fontenelle Tours 2014 Verlyn and Susan L'Heureux and LaRue Coffee