Each year, the West Texas Press Association honors members of the association with the presentation of two awards: The Harold Hudson Memorial Award and the Dewane Kelly Memorial "Friend of the Newspaper" Award.

The Dewane Kelly Memorial "Friend of the Newspaper" award is named for a man who became a member of the West Texas Press Association family by marriage. Upon his marriage in 1984 to Barbara Craig, WTPA's secretary/treasurer, he quickly became an active part of the association.