White Tricorne Hat

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Nominations are Now Being Accepted for the 2026 White Tricorne Hat Award.

Each year, the White Tricorne Hat Award honors an outstanding current resident of the town of Lexington. The deadline for submitting nominations is 6PM on Friday April 3, 2026.

The winner will have demonstrated a dedication to the principles of outstanding leadership and advanced the American way of life in Lexington by giving unselfishly of his or her time and talents over the years, beyond the normal bounds of his or her normal occupation. Past recipients and current major elective office holders are ineligible.

The criteria used by the award selection committee is the candidate must be a current resident of Lexington, not a major elective office holder or past recipient, is someone who has demonstrated a dedication to the principles of outstanding citizenship and has advanced the American way of life in Lexington by giving unselfishly of his or her time and talents over the years beyond the normal bounds of his or her occupation.  The award is made without regard to gender, race, or religious affiliation.

The selection committee is composed of a representative of the Lexington Lions Club, the two most recent recipients, and representatives from five other local Lexington organizations.  

At 7PM on Friday, April 17, 2026, the 2026 White Tricorne Hat Recipient will be announced at Cary Hall during a special event for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The Nomination Form, eligibility, a list of past recipients, and instructions on submitting a nomination is available here. Nominations must be received by the Lexington Lions Club no later than 6:00PM on Friday April 3, 2026.

2026 Nomination Form & Instructions, Print and complete      ->   

2026 Nomination Form & Instructions in Fillable Word form  ->  

All information received is kept totally confidential, including the fact that the application was submitted. 

Each year, since 1954, the White Tricorne Hat award has honored an outstanding resident of the town of Lexington on Patriots Day. Only in 2020 was the award not presented, due to unprecedented measures put in place by State and local officials to slow the spread of COVID-19.

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Susan Rockwell,  2025 White Tricorn Hat Recipient

Susan Rockwell was announced as the 2025 White Tricorne Hat Recipient

at a Special Town Event at 7PM on April 17, 2025.

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Henry Liu,  2024 White Tricorn Hat Recipient

Henry Liu was announced as the 2024 White Tricorn Hat Award Recipient on Monday, April 15, 2024 during Patriots Day Morning Ceremonies on the Battle Green.

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White Tricorn Hat History

 

1954-1959

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-2009

2010-2019

2020-2029

 

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Introduction

 

The White Tricorne Hat Award, Lexington's Oustanding Citizen of the Year, is presented annually on Patriots Day.

 

The committee judges the candidates against the following criteria:

1. Must be a current resident of Lexington.
2. Must not be a current major elected office holder.
3. Must not have won the award previously.
   • Click Here for a list of the Past White Tricorne Hat Award Recipients
4. Of the candidates that meet the above qualifications, the committee* will select the person who, in their opinion, meets the following criteria based on the submitted application and supporting material:
   • has demonstrated a dedication to the principles of outstanding leadership.
   • has advanced the American way of life in Lexington by giving unselfishly of his or her time and talents over the years, beyond the normal bounds of his or her normal occupation. 
5. The award is presented without regard to sex, race or religious affiliation. Nomination forms and instructions are now available.

• The committee is typically composed of a representative of the Lexington Lions Club, Lexington Clergy Association, Lexington Rotary Club, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, one other Lexington Civic Organization, and the Lexington Historical Society. In addition, the two most recent recipients of the award are voting members of the committee.

 

The 2014 White Hat Recipient

John Lucente

 

 

The 2007 White Hat Recipient

Beverly Allison Kelley

 

The 2006 White Hat Recipient

Winston E. "Pat" Flynn