Charles “Chuck” S. Hutchinson Jr. has won the 2009 Jack D. Rittenhouse Award. The award, which honors people who have made outstanding contributions to the book community in the West, is given by the Publishers Association of the West.

Over a 50-year career, Hutchinson worked for Geoscience Press, Inc.; Harbinger House, Inc.; Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.; Ross Publishing Co.; Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.; Reinhold Book Corporation; and Burgess Publishing Company, publishing books in science, physical education, agriculture, home economics, gemology, architecture, environmental design and statistics.

PubWest board president Todd Berger said Hutchinson’s “career as a regional sales manager, editor-in-chief, founder of two publishing companies, and publishing consultant fits perfectly with the spirit of the award.” The award will be presented at PubWest’s annual National Publishing Conference and Book Industry Trade Show in Tucson, Ariz., on November 14.