The William Wharton Award

VAST recognizes distinguished contributions to vexillology in Texas with the William Wharton Award. Named for the Texas senator who authored the legislation in the Congress of the Republic of Texas that established the Lone Star Flag as the flag of Texas, it is given when there is a worthy recipient.

Recipients of the William Wharton Award are:

• Robert T. Maberry, Ph.D., for his book Texas Flags, the seminal work on Texas's flags. (2008)
• Whitney Smith, Ph.D., for his presentation "Women, Flags, and Communication," a study of quilts by Texas women incorporating the Texas flag. (2009)

The award itself is a ivory-colored china plate made by Pickard & Co. with a cobalt-blue center and the handles, edging and the State Seal of Texas all in 24-karat gold. It is accompanied by a certificate signed by the President of the Association.