Recognition for Service
The Reverend Robert "Dale" Stamper, a minister and
counselor for more than 30 years in the face of great disability
and adversity of his own, received the 2004 Major General Melvin
J. Maas Award.
A native of Turlock, California, but currently a member of the
Gem State Regional Group, Dale had already received orders to
report to Stuttgart, Germany, in the spring of 1967 when he was
told that his plans had changed. He would now be going to Vietnam
instead. As he scouted an area that needed replacement of a bridge
in early 1968, he tripped a landmine, eventually resulting in
total blindness and a host of other injuries.
Dale overcame his many losses through education and service to
others. He earned a B.A. in Theology with an emphasis on counseling,
and has served in the evangelical ministry in the northwestern
United States and in the Philippines.
The winner of the 2004 Irving Diener Award was Florida Regional
Group President Terry King. Born in Indianapolis, Terry spent
most of his childhood in Chicago. He is a veteran of the U.S.
Army and began serving with the Combat Engineers as a Demolitions
Specialist in 1959. While in that capacity at the rank of E-4,
Terry was injured in a shell explosion that left him totally blind.
Terry has been working on behalf of the blind and visually impaired
since 1962. According to Director of District 5 Dr. George Stocking,
Terry’s leadership, drive, and enthusiasm have resulted in
increased vigor within the Florida Regional Group. The energy
has, in turn, helped the group locate hundreds of blinded veterans
in Florida and, in a high percentage of cases, inspired the veterans
to join BVA.
Terry is presently completing his fourth year on the Florida
Governor’s Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.
Paul Kaminsky was this year’s recipient of the David Schnair
Award for his demonstration of integrity, compassion, and a giving
spirit as a servant of blinded veterans in Jacksonville and throughout
the state of Florida.
As a district director within the Florida Regional Group, Paul
participates in VIST support group meetings as a speaker and often
visits blinded veterans in their homes to offer emotional support
and help them troubleshoot their computer problems. He is a founding
member and the moderator of the North Florida/South Georgia Blind
Computer Users Group and developed the website for both the users
group and the Florida Regional Group.
Other award winners are:
2004 Gold Gavel Award
Florida Regional Group
(largest numerical increase – 159 members)
2004 Silver Gavel Award
Alabama Regional Group
(largest percentage member increase – 11 percent)
2004 Certificate of Appreciation
Dr. Roger Johnson, Director
West Haven, Connecticut, VA Medical Center
Special Plaque Presentations
Dr. Lucille Beck, Chief Consultant
VA Rehabilitation Strategic Healthcare Group
Dr. James Tuchschmidt, Chairman,
VA Visual Impairment Advisory Board,
and Director, Portland, Oregon, VA Medical Center
John K. Williams
Retiring Administrative Director
BVA National Headquarters
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