William Holder [awarded highest honor from AICPA].

• Position: News&Trends

Los Angeles-based William W. Holder received the AICPA's 2006 Gold Medal for Distinguished Service, the AICPA's highest award.

"For more than three decades, Bill has demonstrated his dedication and involvement through his activities with the AICPA, CalCPA and his teaching and research," said Doyle Williams, chair of the AICPA Awards Committee.

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Holder, Ernst & Young Professor at the University of Southern California and member of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, has been a member of the AICPA Council and board of directors; served as chair of the Audit Committee, the AICPA Board of Examiners, and the CPA Exam's Computerization Implementation Committee; and has been a member of various committees, including Accounting Career Development, Special Committee on Financial Reporting, Nominations and Relations with the Judiciary. He also is active in the American Accounting Association.

"Receiving this award is a tremendous honor and privilege and a seminal event in my life," Holder said.

In 2001 and 2002, Holder was selected by Accounting Today as one of its 100 Most Influential People. Other awards include the AICPA's Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award and CalCPA's Robert Emmett Knox Education Achievement Award.

Holder has written numerous books, articles and case studies on accounting topics. He has conducted research for the Financial...