The William Tyler Olcott Award 2001

Leif has been involved with variable stars since at least November 1956, when he submitted his first of over 5,300 variable star observations to the AAVSO (AAVSO Director Margaret Mayall's comment was "first report - very good").

During his years as Editor of Sky & Telescope, Leif enthusiastically promoted variable stars through his own writings and those of others.

Leif was the key figure at Sky & Telescope in the publication by Sky Publishing Corp. of the first edition of the AAVSO Variable Star Atlas, recognizing its unique value to variable star observers and other observers requiring immediate access to comparison star magnitudes for measuring the brightness of celestial objects such as novae, supernovae, comets, and minor planets.

During his tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Sky & Telescope, Leif continued to promote variable stars with enthusiasm and vigor. Also during this time, Leif strongly encouraged, promoted, and fostered collaborations between Amateur and Professional Astronomers in all fields of astronomy in which such collaborations could prove successful.

Leif's contributions to the dissemination of knowledge of variable stars and variable star observing and to the Amateur-Professional Partnership are lasting ones, and we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to him.

___________________			________________________
Lee Anne Willson				Janet A. Mattei
President					Director

Presented at the AAVSO 90th Annual Meeting
Somerville, Massachusetts, November 3, 2001