| Outstanding Leadership Award, Council on Exceptional Children 2006 |
| Chancellor's Excellence in Service Award, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg 2005 |
| Chairman's Award, Pinellas County Urban League 2004 |
| Award for "making a difference in the lives of children," Pinellas County School System 2002 |
| Honored by the City of St. Petersburg for a "Decade of Excellence" with August 21 being proclaimed "Bill Heller Day" by the City of St. Petersburg 2002 |
| Romaine Mackie Leadership Award in Special Education, Pioneer Division, Council for Exceptional Children 2000 |
| Recognized for outstanding contributions to the Betterment of the Community, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce 1996 |
| E. Wallace Wallin Award, this is the highest honor bestowed by the Council and is predicated on excellence in leadership, service, and accomplishments in the education of children with exceptionalities, Council for Exceptional Children 1991 |
| Outstanding Service Award to an ROTC unit, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Defense 1991 |
| Inducted into the University of Northern Colorado's Hall of Fame as one of its top 100 graduates in the University's 100 year history 1989 |
| Teacher Educator of the Year Award, Teacher Education Division, Council of Exceptional Children and the Merrill Publishing Company. This is the highest award given in special education for exemplary accomplishment as a teacher/educator, 1981 |
| Outstanding Faculty Member, College of Education, University of Alabama 1979 |
| Presidential Citation for Exemplary Performance as Vice-Chairman, White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals 1977 |
| Commendation for Exemplary Service as Superintendent of Bryce Psychiatric Hospital, Alabama Senate Resolution #117 1976 |
| Two Merit Awards for Exemplary Service in Government, U.S. Office of Education, Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, Washington, D.C. 1970, 1971 |
| Recipient, P.L. 85-826 Doctoral Fellowship in Special Education 1963, 1964 |
