webster received numerous honors and awards for his service. washington university granted him the alumni citation for contributions to the field of law in 1972 and in 1981 he received the william greenleaf eliot award. in 1984, he received the u.s. senator john heinz award for greatest public service by an elected or appointed official, an award given out annually by jefferson awards. in 1999 the school of law created the webster society, an outstanding scholars program. furthermore, he received the distinguished alumnus award from the university's law school in 1977. the st. louis globe-democrat named him "man of the year."