Frank & A. J. Bock Award for Extraordinary Achievement

Approved on March 10, 2006, this award was created by the American Rock Art Research Association Board and named in honor of Frank and A. J. Bock, first recipients of the Klaus Wellmann Memorial Award and indefatigable supporters of ARARA. Frank and A.J. were two of the co-founders of ARARA. Frank served as editor of La Pintura for the first 20 years of ARARA's existence and was editor or co-editor of 13 volumes of American Indian Rock Art, continuing his strong behind-the-scenes support until he passed away in 2006. A.J. served ARARA as Secretary/Treasurer for the first 18 years, and subsequently as Archivist until her death in 2011. Together they recorded and organized volunteers to help record many rock art sites across the Western USA.

This award recognizes candidates with extraordinary achievements over their lifetime in the fields of rock art studies, documentation, education, conservation, and outreach. This award differs from the Wellmann Award in that it is a lifetime award that does not necessarily recognize service to ARARA or need to be awarded to an ARARA member. While similar to the Daniel McCarthy Conservation Award, it goes farther by expanding the criteria to include such items as education and public outreach.

Consideration will be given to an individual, group, organization, or agency that has worked over an extended period of time doing a wide range of rock art related services in addition to conservation and preservation. A recipient need not be a member of ARARA.

The Bock Award may be given to an individual for work that was a normal part of his or her employment or professional activities; similarly, it can be given to a group, organization, or agency for work that was a regular part of its operations.

Nominations must be submitted to the ARARA Awards Committee by February 28th, 2026 to the following email address: araraawards@gmail.com with the subject: Bock Award_Last name. Only applications sent through the official channel will be considered for the award.

A written nomination summarizing the contributions of the proposed recipient must be signed by no less than three ARARA members endorsing the application and sent in a single email. The following template provides guidelines for the expected content of the letter: Bock Nomination Template

An award recipient will receive a personalized award and a certificate at the ARARA conference.

Past recipients include (award not given in years not listed):

• 2006: Jim Zintgraff

• 2008: Alanah Woody

• 2009: Donald E. Weaver, Jr.

• 2010: Marvin Rowe, PhD

• 2012: Ann Phillips

• 2014: Mike Taylor

• 2016: Helen Crotty

• 2017: Don Hann
• 2019: Anne McConnell
• 2020: Troy Scotter
• 2021: Daniel McCarthey
• 2023: Mary and Jim Gorden
• 2024: Karen Steelman