The idea for an award to honor an FM member or "friend" of mineralogy originated with a long time member of the PNW chapter, Noble Witt.  The prestigious award soon became known as "The Noble Witt Award".

Nominations are called for each year from the membership to honor a person of the FM community that stands out as having made great contributions to the organization, to mineral science, and the mineral collecting hobby.

Nominations are received by the Chapter's Board of Directors and a recipient is selected from the nominees to receive the award and be honored at the Chapter's annual Symposium.

Recipients recognized to date:

	Year	Awardee
	2016	Robert Woodside, PhD
	2015	Robert Meyer
	2013	Al and Sue Liebetrau, page 15
	2012	Allan Young
	2011	Lorna Goebel Karen Hinderman
	2010	Wes Gannaway
	2007	Bill Dameron
	2004	Lanny Ream
	2003	Sharleen Harvey
	2002	John Lindell
	2001	Harvey Gordon
	2000	Rudy Tschernich
	1999	Bob Boggs
	1998	Arlene Handley
	1997	Richard Rice and Helen Rice
	1996	Ray Lasmanis and Cheryl Burchim
	1995	Norm Steele
	1994	Bob Smith
	1993	Mike Groben

Each recipient receives a plaque of recognition and their name and the date is placed on a permanent plaque that hangs in the Northwest Minerals Gallery at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals.