COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Diana LaBeau has been named only the fourth-ever recipient of the Jane Johnson Distinguished Judge Service Award, and the first since it was renamed in honor of former National Archery Association (now USA Archery) president.
Originally named the Distinguished Judge Award, with the first being won by Tom Green in 2016, it is given to a USA Archery Judge who has made significant contributions to the sport and upholds the greatest ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. Jane Johnson was handed the award in 2017 before Terry LaBeau – Diana’s husband – became the third and most recent recipient seven years ago.
“You work all these years, but you don’t do it for the awards or the trophies,” began Diana. “You do it for the satisfaction and you do it for the archers, so when you do get recognized, it really makes it so much more special.”
Diana was an archer first and a judge second, making her debut as an official in 1997, incidentally after spending time being mentored by the likes of Tom Green, Jane Johnson and Nancy Myrick. Diana – who alongside Terry was given the Karl Palmatier Award of Merit, Archery Hall of Fame in 2022 for their contributions to the sport – has since gone on to officiate at hundreds of events across the country, and saw it as a way of giving back to a sport which had brought her so much joy.
“Once we got started (judging), we enjoyed the travel and we really enjoy also being able to bring new judges in and teach them the rules and make sure things are run properly,” Diana added.
The award was renamed the Jane Johnson Distinguished Judge Award in February 2023, and just days after Mrs. Johnson had passed away at the age of 92. Diana paid tribute to the woman whose name will adorn her award, insisting Jane Johnson instilled standards which made the sport safer and fairer.
She said, “When you didn’t do something right, all she did was just look at you and you felt like crawling under the ground. So, when Terry and I started judging together, and the rules really started becoming official, we just felt it was really important to keep the field of play even and fair, and to enforce the rules.”
When asked whether the 2026 Jane Johnson Distinguished Judge Award would sit front and center on the mantelpiece - not wanting to overshadow 2019 recipient and husband, Terry - the instinctive and swift response from Diana highlighted her leaning toward fair play.
“No, it will go alongside.”
Diana – who was inducted into the Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Fame three years ago – has missed most of the 2026 season following shoulder surgery but such is her devotion and passion for archery that she and husband Terry are already planning for events in 2027, whether as an archer, a scorer or in the role for which she has been recognized for this prestigious award.
“I’m at three-and-a-half months after surgery and the doctor is telling me that I will probably be able to compete, but I also have that love of judging that I kind of want to go back and be on the field with the judges again, so I will probably find a way to do both.”
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