The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those individuals with (1) An extensive record of research and publication in scholarly journals, books, and other appropriate formats; (2) A record of excellence in teaching and advising as evidenced by teaching awards, students advised, and other appropriate measures; (3) A record of service contributions to the individual’s educational institution in the form of administrative positions, committee work, and community contact; (4) A record of support to the geography profession whether through formal services to international, national, or regional organizations or informal work in the public domain.
The following distinguished Geographers have been awarded
the SEDAAG Lifetime Achievement Award since 1987
| Year | Recipient | Institution |
| 1987 | John Fraser Hart | University of Minnesota |
| 1989 | Sam B. Hilliard | Louisiana State University |
| 1993 | Karl B. Raitz | University of Kentucky |
| 1994 | Charles F. Kovacik | University of South Carolina |
| 1995 | Stephen S. Birdsall | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| 1996 | Morton D. Winsberg | Florida State University |
| 1999 | Ron Abler | Association of American Geographers |
| 2000 | James O. Wheeler | University of Georgia |
| 2001 | Risa Palm | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
| 2002 | J. Dennis Lord | University of North Carolina, Charlotte |
| 2004 | Vernon G. Meentemeyer | University of Georgia |
| 2005 | C.P. Lo | University of Georgia |
| Neal Lineback | Appalachian State University | |
| 2006 | Owen Furuseth | University of North Carolina-Charlotte |
| Stanley Brunn | University of Kentucky | |
| 2007 | Stephen Walsh | University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
| 2008 | Jess McKee | University of Southern Mississippi |
| 2009 | Tyrel G. Moore | University of North Carolina, Charlotte |
| 2010 | Graham A. Tobin | University of South Florida |
| 2011 | Gerald Webster | University of Wyoming |
| 2012 | Kathleen Parker | University of Georgia |
| 2013 | Carol Harden | University of Tennessee |
| 2014 | Sally Horn | University of Tennessee |
| 2015 | Kavita Pandit | University of Georgia |
| 2016 | Thomas L. Bell | University of Tennessee |
| 2018 | Clifton ‘Skeeter’ Dixon, | University of Southern Mississippi |
| Allan James | University of South Carolina | |
| 2019 | Derek Alderman | University of Tennessee at Knoxville |
| 2020 | James (Jim) Campbell | Virginia Tech |
| 2021 | Bobby Wilson (Posthumous) | University of Alabama |