WLHS Board Member Jon Shelton (left) presents Award to St. Sen Dave Hansen in a special ceremony in 2020. 
Each year, the Society honors an individual for “Lifetime Achievements for the Wisconsin Labor Movement.”  Special emphasis is placed upon providing the honor to persons who have a rank-and-file background and who have provided many years of voluntary leadership.

1993 Herb Schultz Meatcutters’ Union Organizer Madison
1994 John Shaffer United Electrical Workers Rep Milwaukee
1995 Alfred “Babe” Harnisch Railroad Unionist La Crosse
1996 Helen Hensler OPEIU Local 9 Milwaukee
1997 Clarence Kailin Activist in labor, peace issues Madison
1998 Donel H. Wyman Carpenters Union Oshkosh
1999 Nellie Wilson Smith Steel Workers #19806 – Ret., Civil rights activist Milwaukee
2000 Ken Germanson Allied Industrial Workers., Retired Milwaukee
2001 Larry Penn Labor Folksinger, Teamster Milwaukee
2002 Emil Muelver UE Rep; Dir., District Council  48, AFSCME Milwaukee
2003 Oliver “Bob” Haase Ironworker Greenfield
2004 Ed Muzik AFT-Wisconsin Milwaukee
2005 Ron Thomas UAW Local 95 Racine
2006 Paul Blackman DALU 19806 President Milwaukee
2007 Darold and Gretchen Lowe AFSCME Retired and Community Activists Madison
2008 Mary Jo Avery Communications Workers Local 4603 Milwaukee
2009 Jim Reiland Graphics Communications Union/WLHS Director Menasha
2010 David Newby Pres. Emeritus, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Madison
2011 Steve Masar Unionist, Activist Madison
2012 Judy Burnick OPEIU Rep / Activist West Bend
2013 Ken Greening Plumbers Local 75 Greendale
2014 Gordon Billmann UAW Local 833 – Retired Kohler
2015 Laurie Wermter AFSCME Local 2412; WLHS Vice Pres.; Developer of Wisconsin labor history  bibliography Madison
2016 Jesus Salas Farmworker Organizer, Activist Milwaukee
2017 Luz Sosa AFT Local 212. MATC; WLHS Oak Creek
2018 Sheila Cochran Milwaukee Area Labor Council President, Ret. Milwaukee
2019 David Newby Pres. Emeritus, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Madison
2020 Dave Hansen State Senator, Teamster Green Bay
2021 Harvey Kaye Prof Emeritus, UW-Green Bay, WLHS Director Green Bay
2022 Joanne Ricca Retired WI AFL-CIO staff Milwaukee
2023 no award given
2024 Fred Kessler retired lawyer, judge, elected official Milwaukee
2025 Candice Owley President WFNHP Local 5000, retired Milwaukee
2026 Steven Cupery WEAC, retired Milwaukee