The HHMA is presented annually by the SCAA to an aerospace leader whose accomplishments over a long career have contributed significantly to the advancement of aviation or space technology. It has become a tradition that the previous year’s recipient presents the medallion to the new honoree.

The solid silver medallion is cast from silver mined in Hughes’ Nevada mines. HHMA past recipients -- a veritable "hall of fame" of industry achievers -- are Jack Northrop, Jimmy Doolittle, Pat Hyland, Bob Six, Kelly Johnson, Chuck Yeager, Ed Heinemann, Barry Goldwater Sr., Pete Conrad, Allen Paulson, Si Ramo, Jack Real, Ben Rich, Clif Moore, Lee Atwood, Harry Wetzel, Bobbi Trout, Tom Jones, Allen Puckett, Paul B. MacCready, John Brizendine, Willis Hawkins, Sam Iacobellis, Kent Kresa, Neil Armstrong, Frank Robinson, Burt Rutan, Eileen Collins, and James Albaugh. As a tribute to Howard Hughes, his first cousin William R. Lummis, then chairman and CEO of Summa Corp., in 1978 established the Howard Hughes Medal for leadership in aviation.

In another milestone event in the continuing recognition by SCAA of world aeronautics pioneers in January 2005, Frank Robinson, founder of the company that produces and delivers more civil helicopters than any other in the world, was presented the 26th Howard Hughes Memorial Award. The next presentation of the award, in January 2006, will be to Burt Rutan, who has been called the world’s leading air and space vehicle designer.

The trophy is a globe and vehicle sculpture with names of recipients engraved on the base. Until 1991 Will Lummis personally presented the medallion to the annual recipient. Anticipating his evolution of leadership of Summa (and what is now the Howard Hughes Corporation), Mr. Lummis requested then that the previous year's recipient present the medallion to the current recipient. It was particularly appropriate that this custom began when Jack Real (Hughes' closest confidant) made the presentation to Ben Rich (longtime Lockheed designer, successor to Kelly Johnson as head of the Lockheed Skunk Works).

The solid silver medallion depicts Hughes from the era when he was designing and flying his famed Flying Boat, setting world records, dressed in the familiar brown fedora, open shirt and two-toned sports jacket. The reverse side of the medallion signifies aspects of Hughes' varied life - the Hughes drilling bit, a reel of film, a landing falcon, the state of Nevada, the earth with a circle of stars symbolizing his round-the-world record, the first communications satellite, and the Flying Boat as it crests the waves of Long Beach Harbor. The medallion was designed and executed by sculptor Joseph Princiottai.

The Howard Hughes Memorial Award dinner is held in January each year, closest to the date (1938) when Hughes completed his record-setting round-the-world flight.