Since 1975 the Science Fiction Writers of America recognizes outstanding authors with a lifetime achievement award called the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master. Here are just a few of the winners, including some from Minnesota!

Robert A. Heinlein (1975)
Clifford D. Simak (1977) - Minnesota
Andre Norton (1984)
Ray Brandbury (1989)
Damon Knight (1995)
Poul Anderson (1998) - Minnesota
Ursula K. Le Guin (2003)
Anne McCaffrey (2005)
Michael Moorcock (2008)
Connie Willis (2012)
Gene Wolfe (2013)