The Parris Award was established by SouthWest Writers to honor a published writer, screenwriter, or editor who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers.
Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.
SouthWest Writers was established in 1983 to allow successful established authors to pass on their knowledge and insights to aspiring writers.
The Parris Award is named for one of the Charter members, Parris Afton Bonds, who gave tirelessly of her time encouraging new members.
The award is given to an SWW member who has:
1) a significant published body of work, 2) a record of extraordinary effort in furthering the organization, and 3) a pattern of showing encouragement to other writers.
The 2025 winner, Dr. Sherri Burr, received a plaque from the Parris Award committee nominator Rose Marie Kern, at the SWW Annual Meeting on October 11, 2025.
For more information about Sherri, visit her website at:https://sherriburr.com
Pictured on the left are Rose Marie Kern, Dr. Sherri Burr (holding award) and on the screen is Parris Afton Bonds.
| Previous Parris Award Recipients | |
| 1987…Parris Afton Bonds 1988…Mary Lynn 1989…Norman Zollinger 1990…Eileen Stanton 1991…Paula Paul 1992…Lois Duncan 1993…Madge Harrah 1994…Jean Blackmon Waszak 1995…Tony Hillerman 1996…Elsie Karr Kreischer 1997…Suzanne Spletzer 1998…Joann Hamlin 1999…Suzanne Spletzer (won twice) 2000…Sue Bohannon Mann 2001…Suzi Little 2002…Larry W Greenly 2003…Lela Belle Wolfert |
2004…Sandy Schairer 2005…David Corwell 2006…Rob Spiegel 2007…Loretta Hall 2008…Melody Groves 2009…Keith Pyeatt 2010…Jeanne Shannon 2011…Rick Reichman 2012…Joseph Badal 2015…Gail Rubin 2018…Sarah Baker 2020…Jacqueline Murray Loring 2021…Kirt Hickman 2022…Rose Marie Kern 2023…Jim Tritten 2024…Cornelia Gamlem 2025…Dr. Sherri Burr |