ANA’s 2002 Medal of Merit Awards
Each year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) awards its Medal of Merit in recognition of numerous years of dedicated, outstanding service to the Association.
At the ANA’s 111th Anniversary Convention Awards Ceremony, August 2, in New York City, the prestigious award – including a certificate and an engraved, silver medal – was bestowed on three long-time supporters: David C. Harper of Iola, Wisconsin; Gerald L. Kochel of Lititz, Pennsylvania; and Lawrence E. Rowe of Vancouver, Washington.
David C. Harper has had a keen interest in all areas of the numismatic hobby for most of his life. His vast experience has allowed him to be insightful and objective while monitoring and influencing developments in the hobby.
As Harper has honed his journalistic expertise with Krause Publications for nearly 25 years, he has been extremely influential in the numismatic community. He began his writing career at the age of 16, when his first article was published in Coins magazine, a Krause Publications periodical he would one day edit. Today he is editor of the weekly Numismatic News, and monthlies World Coin News and Bank Note Reporter. For all his hard work and dedication, Harper received the Clemy award from the Numismatic Literary Guild in 2001. He maintains a quiet and unassuming presence at coin shows and conventions every year and is a wonderful contributor to the growth and pleasure of numismatics.
Gerald L. Kochel has been an exhibitor at ANA conventions for 30 consecutive years, accumulating numerous awards. An ANA exhibit judge for 25 years, he was exhibit chairman at the ANA 2001 World’s Fair of Money® in Philadelphia. He has a wide range of talent in the hobby and never seems to stop achieving. A frequent numismatic speaker around the country, he has developed more than 30 slide programs that he presented to more than 100 coin and service clubs. He also has been a student and instructor at the ANA’s Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Kochel has contributed to the ANA’s monthly journal, The Numismatist, and publications of the Central States Numismatic Society, Florida United Numismatists (FUN), Middle Atlantic Numismatic Association and Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN). He has received numerous honors, including an ANA Presidential and Glenn Smedley Memorial Awards, FUN’s A.J. Vinci Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Education, Harrisburg Coin Club’s Outstanding Coin Collector of Central Pennsylvania, PAN’s Outstanding Numismatist and Numismatic News Numismatic Ambassador.
Lawrence E. Rowe is a tireless worker who aims to promote numismatics as a family hobby wherever he goes. General chairman of ANA’s 1990 and 1998 conventions in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, respectively, he also served in the same capacity for the Central States Numismatic Society’s (CSNS) 1980 convention in Lincoln, Nebraska. He repeatedly has served the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association (PNNA) in many capacities, including exhibit and election chairman. He has been an ANA national volunteer since 1994, assisting at the Association’s twice-annual conventions.
A member of many coin clubs, Rowe has served as president of the PNNA, Nebraska Numismatic Association, Lincoln Coin Club and Wahoo Coin Club of Nebraska, as well as CSNS governor. He is the recipient of many honors, including the ANA Glenn Smedley Memorial Award, CSNS Medal of Merit, PNNA’s Nystrom Memorial Goodwill Ambassador Award and Bob Everett Memorial Award for promotion of numismatics in the Pacific Northwest. Rowe, who is a big promoter of ANA’s National Coin Week and an active participant every year, has been named Numismatic Ambassador by Numismatic News. A committed collector for almost 50 years, he is well deserving of this recognition.
In bestowing its Medal of Merit on David C. Harper, Gerald L. Kochel and Lawrence E. Rowe, the American Numismatic Association presented a silver medal to each and expresses the sincere appreciation of its members for their service.
Originally Release Date: August 2, 2002
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org