American Taxation Association

The ATA honored Professor Eugene Seago of Virginia Tech University with the Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Educator Award at the August 4, 2008 luncheon in Anaheim.  This award has been generously funded by the Ernst & Young Foundation since its inception in 1993 and is given in recognition of the recipient’s career contributions to tax-related teaching, research, and service.  Professor Seago’s contributions to the teaching of taxation, his dedication to students, his pursuit of scholarship, his mentoring of colleagues, and his service to the profession make him truly worthy of this award.

Professor Seago has taught thousands of students in his more than 38 years of teaching, almost all of which has been spent at Virginia Tech University.  Gene specializes in income tax accounting periods and methods and the taxation of corporations and partnerships.  His expertise has been sought by the IRS, Department of Justice, and corporate America in cases involving accounting for inventories and long-term contracts.  He also testified before the Ways and Means Committee in 1991.  Gene also was a co-founder of the AICPA Symposium on Graduate Tax Education.

One of the hallmarks of Professor Seago’s career has been his dedication to scholarship.  He has authored or co-authored more than 100 articles.  Since 2000, alone, he has published more than 40 articles.  He is a frequent contributor to Tax Notes, Journal of Taxation, Journal of Corporate Taxation, and the Tax Lawyer.  In addition, he has authored or co-authored six books dealing with taxation.

Professor Seago’s service to the American Taxation Association is legendary.  He was the first editor of the Journal of Legal Tax Research beginning in 2002.  He has served the ATA as President in 1989-1990, Vice President in 1986-1987, a member of the Board of Trustees in 1984-1986 and  1990-1992, and has chaired 11 ATA committees.  Gene received the ATA Outstanding Service Award in 1997 and becomes the second individual to be honored with the organization’s two highest career awards

In addition to his many achievements, Gene is an unassuming, gracious, and humble individual.  In every way, Professor Seago is richly deserving of the 2007-2008 Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Educator Award.