NOTE:  Nominations for the Bucky O’Neill Award must be postmarked no later than the 30th of September.

NOMINATION FORM/CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES

PURPOSE:  In 2013, the UAV created the Bucky O’Neill Arizona Veterans Award to recognize and honor the efforts and achievements made by public departments, agencies or organizations and those public servants or elected officials who consistently provide exemplary service to the military veterans and/or their families who reside in the State of Arizona.

BACKGROUND:  William Owen “Bucky” O’Neill (February 2, 1860 – July 1, 1898) was an American soldier, the 14th Adjutant General of Arizona (1889-1891), a judge of Yavapai County, Arizona, a three term Yavapai County sheriff, a newspaper editor, started his own railroad company which would run from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon, a miner, gambler and lawyer, and in 1898 was elected as Mayor of Prescott, Arizona, serving briefly before stepping down to join the Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. His nickname came from his tendency to “buck the tiger” at faro or other card games. He was a Captain in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, and died in battle shortly after evoking his now famous last words, ‘Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn’t made that will kill me.’

Bucky O’Neill is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  On July 3, 1907, a monument by sculptor Solon Borglum (of Mount Rushmore fame) was dedicated to the memory of Bucky and the other Rough Riders in the County Courtyard of Prescott, Arizona.

SUMMARY:  The UAV may present this award to any local, county, or State of Arizona governmental agency, or to a single elected official, current or to a past member of said institutions, excluding members of the State Legislature.  This award may be presented at the annual Patriotic Gala hosted by the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS).  The UAV recognizes and honors the AVHOFS as a partner in all endeavors that complement and serve our Arizona military veteran communities and veterans’ service organizations.  The Bucky O’Neill Arizona Veterans Award is the most revered of the awards presented by the UAV.

DESCRIPTION:  The Bucky O’Neill Award consists of a significantly sized metallic and copper colored statuette of a horseback rider mounted on a pedestal with an engraved inscription at the base displaying the UAV emblem suitably exhibited.  The award embodies the concept that the award recipient’s exceptional service to our military veterans reflects the finest frontier spirit of our State’s early leaders.

SUBMISSION ADDRESS AND DATE:  Nominations may be submitted at any time and will be considered during the next convening of the Awards Committee.  Submit Nomination Packet to:

            Unified Arizona Veterans
            P. O. Box 34338
            Phoenix, AZ  85067 

ELIGIBILITY:  The nominee must be or have served as an elected official of any local, county, or State of Arizona government other than as a State Senator or Representative of Arizona, or 2) be a local, county, or State of Arizona agency or employee thereof.

CRITERIA:  The following criteria is established as requisites to the nomination package.

  • Evaluation Scope:  Evaluations will focus upon the scope and impact of a nominee’s achievements and the extent to which their efforts, of the efforts of the agency, benefit military veterans and/or military veteran’s families.
  • Nomination Format:  For the submission process to uniformly portray the efforts and contributions of those nominated, the submission packet is required in the following format:
  • Validation:  Nominators are required to ensure accuracy of the information submitted, and will confirm validation of data by their signature.
  • Nominee’s Advocacy Contributions:  Summarize the contributions and recognition of the nominee in relation to veterans’ advocacy or veterans’ support programs or initiatives. (Examples may include the nominee’s active involvement with veterans’ organizations.)
  •  Letters of Recommendation:  Letters should be from people not immediately related to the nominee.

AWARDS COMMITTEE:   Nominations for the Copper Shield and the Bucky O’Neill award will be reviewed by a single committee of veterans selected from Arizona’s recognized veterans’ service organizations and appointed by the Chairperson of the UAV.  At least one of the members of this committee shall be a member of the UAV Legislative Committee.  The committee will be chaired by a serving member of the UAV Board of Directors or past chairperson of the UAV.

APPROVAL AUTHORITY:  The final approval for this award is the UAV Board of Directors.

QUESTIONS:  Questions regarding this operating instruction may be addressed to chair@azuav.org or secretary@azuav.org