A number of alumni received the Distinguished Alumni Award from MCH prior to the Association presenting its first award in 1973.

1973 Eugene McPherson

1976 Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Dyer

1977 Alma Gass Hartwig

1978 Red Gibson

1979 James "Boo" Brunson

Dr. Jack Kyle Daniels

1982 Ethel Gregory Rodgers

1983 Grady Dykes; Powell Gibson

1984 Jackie Birdwell; Charlie Needham

1985 Byron & Lois Horton

1986 Dorothy Thralls Riggs

1987 J.D. "Bud" Martin

1988 Boyd Jones

1989 Eugenia Williams Travis

Bessie Baker Beaver

1990 Nelda Latty Hazlewood

Martha Wingfield Oden

1991 Dr. Dan Craig & Edith Tomlinson Craig

1992 Warren Gibson

1993 Bobby Vance

1994 Eugene & Joyce Jones Spencer

1995 Peggy Patterson Brashers

1996 Vann & Mary Ellen Hill Norwood

Carl Milam

1997 Dr. Don Craig; Louise Howell Ward

Bruce Ward; Mary Jo Whitacre

1998 Melvin Trousdale; Belma & Aubrey Gibson

1999 Johnny Milam; John T. Hull

2000 Gordon Parrish; Howard Glass

2001 Jim and Laura Milam

Jessie Sim

2002 Sue Herring Schwartzman

Betty Jo Herring Echols

2003 Andy McMahan

Dr. Jack K. Daniels received a special award in recognition of his retirement

2004 Martha Wall Gillispie; Dr. Sam Hull

2005 Michael Dickerson; Boyce Jones

2006 Carolyn Stovall Bruns

T.J. Stankiewicz

2007 Edwin L. Holt; Marvin C. Brown

2008 Jan Gaisser Madden

Pearl Sumner Carey

2009 Peggy Jones Custard

Cheri Gibson Swift

2010 Elmer Newman

Betty Young Sharp

2011 Elaine Earl Milam; Bobby Sumner

2012 Jerry Milam; Chadd Jackson

2013 Jeff Clinton Buie

Margaret Gerhardt-Miller

Joe Bailey Rollins

2014 Mamie Lee Dodds; John White

2015 Kathleen Stephenson Pellegrino

Patrick McKeever

2016 Mazell Hawkins; Les Leskoven

2017 Abbie White Lyle

Mattie Riggs LeFever

2018 Bruce Pruett

2019 Tim Woodlock

2020 Joe Liles

2021 Tracy Talley Wingo

2022 Debbie Daugherty

(Honorary Service Award)

2023 Amy Ellis

2024 Jimmy Ray Hammond

2025 Joe Mitchell

2026 Dan Moore