Gerald S. Parker Award of Merit
First Awarded in 1984Gerald S Parker

Purpose:  To recognize CRCPD members who have made significant contributions, individually or as a group, in assisting the states and/or the public in achieving a better understanding of, and protection from, radiation exposure.

Criteria:  The contribution must be:

  • A unique and valuable method of approach, providing the ability to implement a better program of radiation protection;                                                                         Gerald S. Parker

  • The discovery, evaluation and/or recommendation for control of a potential source of radiation not previously dealt with, in a new, unique and/or more effective way; or

  • An outstanding individual, committee, or task force effort which results in a major contribution to radiological health and has a positive effect on or for the CRCPD.

Eligibility:  Must be a member of CRCPD.

Gerald S. Parker was one of the founding fathers of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. (CRCPD), and many will say the chief founding father.  He served as CRCPD's first Secretary/Treasurer and continued in that position for over six years.  During these embryonic years of the organization, it was basically a "one man operation" and that one man operation was Jerry Parker.  He was responsible for managing the budget, planning the annual programs, running the committees, giving testimony to Congress, and on behalf of the CRCPD and the states, providing state input at a variety of forums during the development of the Federal Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968.  Upon leaving his position as Secretary/Treasurer, he was immediately elected as Chairman of the CRCPD, and served on the Board of Directors for another three years.  Because of Jerry's enthusiastic dedication to assist these beginning state radiation control programs and his strong desire to have a national organization to represent these new programs in a unified manner, the CRCPD and the individual state radiation control programs have become a strong force in protecting the public from unnecessary radiation exposure.  It is because of these attributes that CRCPD has established this most prestigious award in his name.