Established in 1984 to recognize regionally known band directors and laymen who have made contributions to the band field. The award is named after A. Frank Martin who served as the first Grand President of the Fraternity from 1919-1921. Martin was then elected to the position of National Executive Secretary in 1939. Nominations for this award are accepted twice annually by the National Council by for consideration at the National Council meetings. Nominations are due by January 1 and July 1 and should include a letter of nomination with supporting documents.
Award Recipients
| 1984 | Donald R. Minx, Arkansas State University |
| 1985 | Benjamin J. Butler, Texas Southern University |
| 1986 | David Catron, Michigan State University Stanley F. Michlaski, Clarion University of Pennsylvania Mel Montgomery, Stephen F. Austin State University |
| 1988 | Victor W. Zajec, VanderCook College |
| 1989 | George N. Parks, University of Massachusetts |
| 1990 | Eddie N. Green, University of Houston Reid Poole, University of Florida James R. Wells, West Chester University |
| 1991 | Gordon R. Goodwin, University of South Carolina Christopher Haughee, Florida State University Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., University of Massachusetts |
| 1992 | Thomas P. Hannum, University of Massachusetts Robert Jorgensen, University of Akron Robert Spradling, Syracuse University |
| 1993 | Roy Johnson, Purdue University |
| 1995 | Robert W. Smith, James Madison Univ./Troy State Univ. |
| 1996 | Steven C. Nelson, Oklahoma State University |
| 1997 | William Brent, Northwestern State University of Louisiana |
| 1999 | Debra M. Eakins, West Virginia University |
| 2000 | Paula Holcomb, SUNY Fredonia Bucky Johnson, Georgia Institute of Technology Mike Pyatt, Armed Forces School of Music |
| 2001 | Malinda Matney, Wichita State University Peter Murray, Miami University |
| 2003 | Michelle Kincheloe, University of Colorado |
| 2005 | Paul Patterson, Arizona State University Lou Rusiski, University of Pittsburgh Brent Cannon, Stephen F. Austin State University |
| 2006 | Dr. Brad McDavid, University of Washington |
| 2007 | Robert Grechesky, Butler University Jeffrey G. Stone, Texas A&M Univ-Kingsville Marie Burleigh, West Virginia University |
| 2008 | Michael K. Osborn, Michigan State University Dr. Andrea Strauss, Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 2010 | William Posey, James Madison University |
| 2011 | Daniel A. George, University of Texas at Arlington Dr. Kirk Randazzo, University of South Carolina Dale Croston, Oklahoma State University |
| 2013 | Derrick Mills, Ohio State University |
| 2014 | Eric Morson, University of Connecticut |
| 2015 | Rod Whiteman, Butler University Anthony Falcone, University of Nebraska Denali Pearce-Alt, Missouri State University Dr. John M. Laverty, Syracuse University |
| 2016 | Dr. Douglas Keiser, Indiana State University John Hendricks, III, West Virginia University |
| 2017 | Tanya Marsh, Arizona State University Dr. Craig Aarhus, Mississippi State University Chris D. Joyce, Howard Payne University |
| 2018 | Amy Heavilin, University of Akron Adam Mewhorter, East Central University |
| 2019 | Aaron Moore, Northeastern State University |
| 2021 | Abigail Johnson, Michigan State University |
| 2023 | Jennifer Taylor, East Central University & University of Arkansas Clinton Wieden, Oklahoma State University Tammi Ramsey, University of Akron Daniel Miller, West Virginia University Casey Blankenship, James Madison University Heidi Sarver, University of Delaware |
| 2024 | Ed Savoy, Lock Haven University & James Madison University Michael Napolitano, Marist College |