-In 2021, Gar was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame; the highest honor one can receive in this field. Other recipients have included Ringo Starr, Gene Krupa, Louis Bellson, Michael Colgrass (Pulitzer Prize), his teachers from Juilliard, Saul Goodman and Morris Goldenberg, and countless other luminaries.
- Kennedy Center Concert, March 11, 2016: Advance Always: A Celebration of Frank Battisti and Garwood Whaley. The Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Bishop Ireton High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble present an evening of music intended to honor the significant contributions of two luminaries in the field of music education--Frank Battisti and Garwood Whaley.
- Percussive Arts Society Lifetime Achievement in Education Award (2015)
- Midwest Clinic’s Music Industry Award (2011)
- Honorary Diploma, Bishop Ireton High School (2004)
- American Bandmasters Association (associate member 2002)
- In 1998, Bishop Ireton High School named its new performance hall the "Garwood Whaley Auditorium" in recognition of his long-term contributions to the fine arts.
- Grant in the Arts from the Washington Post Newspaper’s Educational Foundation for his "Commissioned Work and Composer-In-The School Project" (5 years)
- Diploma of the Sudler Order of Merit of the John Philip Sousa Foundation (1995)
- Alumni Achievement Award in the field of Education from The Catholic University of America (1994)
- Kappa Delta Pi (1993)
- International Who’s Who in Music
- Who’s Who in American Music
- Who’s Who in America
- The National Federation Interscholastic Music Association Outstanding Music Educator Award
- The National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence (1986)
- Outstanding National Catholic Bandmaster
- Outstanding Secondary Educators of America Award (1974)