Rex Dillow Award for Outstanding Article

The Rex Dillow Award is presented to the author or authors of the best article published in Facilities Manager magazine during the previous year. Recipients are selected by a review committee comprising a member representative from each APPA region.

Eligible articles are those written by a full-time employee from any department of an APPA member institution. In addition, articles written by APPA Members Emeritus who are not affiliated with a business partner firm may be eligible for award consideration. If an article has more than one listed author, all authors must be full-time employees of an APPA member institution or a Member Emeritus to be eligible for the award. Eligible institutions must be Institutional or Affiliate members at the time of publication.

Selection Guidelines

APPA administers the Rex Dillow Award with designated reviewer representatives, who assess each of the eligible articles based on the following five categories:

1. Content: the degree to which the article adds to the body of knowledge of the facilities profession through new information, a new perspective on existing information or techniques, or case studies.
2. Interest: the degree to which the article addresses current topics or stimulates interest through its methods of expression.
3. Readability: the degree to which the article conforms to the style and format of the magazine, uses easily understood words and phrases, and provides a logical structure.
4. Applicability: the appeal and value of the article’s content to a broad range of educational facilities and other institutions.
5. Ease of editing: reflects the time and effort required by the magazine editor to prepare the submitted article for publication.

Each category is given equal weight in its contribution to the article’s overall rating.

Past Recipients

2023
Dan Bollman and Adam S. Lawver
Read Connecting People to Places: Michigan State University’s Use of Mobile Technologies

2022
Cameron Christensen
Read Ventilation as a Tool to Protect Against COVID-19

2021
Adam S. Lawver and Sean O’Connor
Read Deploying Disruptive Technologies with a Disruptive Approach to Leadership

2020
Brian Cowperthwaite and John D’Angelo
Read Infrastructure Resiliency Model

2019
Steven D. Gilsdorf
Read The Custodian’s Role in Student Success

2018
Josh Logan and Nancy Hostetler
Read Exploring the Benefits of a Strong Internship Program

2017
Ryan M. Kmetz
Read Designing a Resilient Campus

2016
Keith Woodward
Read Facilities and School Security

2015
Eric Gregory
Read Commissioning and Emory’s Sustainable Performance Program

2014
Richard L. McDermott 
Read Alright Already! Let’s Stop Answering the Wrong Question About Deferred Maintenance

2013
Donald J. Guckert and Jeri Ripley King
Read Creating a Shared Context for Value-Based Collaboration & Decision Making

2012
John Cannon
Read Exceeding Expectations

2011
William A. Daigneau
Read Portfolio Based Management

2010
Joe Whitefield
Read Deferred Capital Renewal as a Spoiler for Campus Programs

2009
Frederic J. Gratto
Read Give Me Liberty or Give Me Brick 

2008
Kate Van Sant and Patricia Stewart
Read Pandemic Preparation: Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst 

2007
William A. Daigneau
Read Megatrends and Myths: Facilities Management Practices in Higher Education

2006
Roger E. Rowe
Read After-Action Reviews: A Process for Continuous Improvement 

2005
Leonard Friesenhahn
Read The University of Texas Sewer Rehab: Using Trenchless Technologies

2004
Richard W. Robben
Read Quality Measurement in a Facilities Management Environment

2003
Donald J. Guckert and Jeri Ripley King
Read The High Cost of Building a Better University

2002
Walter K. Simpson
Read A Facilities Manager’s Guide to Green Building Design

2001
David Gonzales
Read It Takes a Revolution – A Case Study of Facilities Service Improvements at UCSB

2000
William A. Daigneau
Read Charting the Future: A Research Agenda for APPA

1999
John G. Dempsey and Gretchen Wesenberg
Read The Design Partner

1998
William A. Daigneau
Read Product Based Management

1997
Walter Simpson
Read Environmental Stewardship and the Green Campus

1996
Ksenia Jaroshevish and William Merck
Read Pre-Design Planning

1995
Walter Simpson
Read Recharging Campus Energy Conservation: ESCOs and Demand Side Management at SUNY Buffalo

1994
Harvey H. Kaiser
Read Putting the Facilities Audit to Work

1993
Mark Pastin
Read Power, Influence, and Survival in Difficult Times

1992
James E. Christenson
Read Maintenance Management for the 1990s

1991
Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris
Read The Library Environment and the Preservation of Library Materials

1990
Teresa S. Hargett and Robert C. Osborn
Read Cornell Recycles: A Major University Commitment

1989
William S. Mutch
Read The 1988 Olympic Winter Games: The University of Calgary Involvement

1988
Harvey H. Kaiser
Read Capital Needs in Higher Education

1987
Douglas K. Christensen
Read Integrating Capital Studies Within Physical Plant Operations