ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, U.S. — AACCI International awarded its 2013 William F. Geddes Memorial award to Steven C. Nelson, former president of the association. The award is kept secret until the annual meeting’s opening session, this year held Sept. 29 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Nelson retired in April after more than 40 years of service to the association and Scientific Societies, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. He succeeded Raymond Tarleton, who was also a Geddes Award winner.

Nelson joined AACCI in 1973 as an artist and keyliner in the publications department. He later was promoted to the position of publications manager and went on to hold several key operational positions at the association’s headquarters before being named executive vice-president in 1991. 

The association’s Milling and Baking Division also made a surprise award for leadership service and contributions to the division. This year, it named Laurie Gorton, executive editor of World Grain’s sister publication, Baking & Snack, as the recipient of the Myron D. (Mike) Baustein Award. Gorton has been a longtime member of the scientific society. She serves the division as its current secretary.

The William F. Geddes Memorial Award was created in 1961 to honor the zeal and unselfish industry of an individual member and to emphasize the importance of his or her contributions to the work of the society. The individual after whom the award is named served the association as president (1938–39), vice-president (1937–38), editor-in-chief (1943–61), active member, and committee member. Geddes influenced the organization in many ways, contributing to its work and progress, increasing its usefulness to its members, and boosting its reputation in the fields of fundamental and applied cereal science. 

The Myron D. (Mike) Baustian Award is named in honor of the first chairman of the Milling and Baking Division. It is presented from time to time as deemed appropriate by the awards committee. It recognizes members for leadership and contributions to the division.