The Distinguished Service Award for 2001 is presented to Don Smith for his unflagging dedication and service have helped sustain Bookbuilders West for over 19 years. He has chaired committees, participated in educational seminars, volunteered for tasks too numerous to mention - and he has never missed a board meeting!

Don earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Illinois Wesley an University in 1959. After graduation, he entered the Sears, Roebuck & Company Retail Management Program in the greater Chicago area. Don started his training in Cicero, Illinois, and became Assistant Store Manager in Evanston, Illinois.

Don's publishing career began in 1963 with the newly formed educational division of Encyclopaedia Britannica (E.B. Press), selling innovative educational materials to schools, colleges, and libraries. Relocated to Abilene, Texas, in 1965, he joined the Addison-Wesley School Division as the Southwest District Manager, managing state adoption sales for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. In 1970, Don transferred to California as National Sales Administrator at the Addison-Wesley offices in Menlo Park. And in 1976, he became Sales Manager for Fearon-Pitman Publishing Company in Belmont. Two years later Don decided a career change might be in order and attempted selling residential real estate for a few years.

In 1981 the opportunity to get back into the publishing industry came knocking when Permalin Products was looking for their first West Coast Sales Representative to expand their sales of cover materials to publishers and packaging customers in the Western states. Don joined Arcata Graphics in 1985 selling book manufacturing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in 1987 rejoined Permalin Products.

Don became active in Bookbuilders West in 1982. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1984 and has served continuously since 1991 - his combination of straight talk and hearty sense of humor have enlivened many Board meetings. Don has served on many committees, including Education, Program, the Crash Course in Production, Environment, Publicity, Scholarship, and Membership. He has participated in educational seminars on paper and cover materials and chaired the Environment and Publicity Committees. Don is currently Chair for both the Scholarship and Membership Committees.

Bookbuilders West thanks Don for his contributions in so many different areas of the organization. His long service, perseverance, and willingness to raise his hand when no one else would are greatly appreciated. Congratulations, Don!