Montgomery County is seeking nominations for its African American Living Legends Awards that honor individuals who are 75 or older and have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community.
The awards will be presented as part of the 26th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, themed “Celebrating Freedom at the Rock . . . Acknowledge, Educate, Celebrate.” The awards ceremonies will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The community celebration will be from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, at the BlackRock Center.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will host the African American Living Legend Awards presentation to honor distinguished individuals who are living legends in the County and have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community.
To nominate someone for the award, submit a narrative of two pages or less on why the nominee should be honored. A list of their contributions to the community must be included. More information about the awards can be found at the Office of Human Rights website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/humanrights.
Nominations must be submitted by June 1. Nominations will be evaluated and the final selections will be determined by the County Executive.
Nominations can be emailed to james.stowe@montgomerycountymd.gov. Nominations also can be mailed to Montgomery County Office of Human Rights / African American Living Legend Nomination / 21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330 / Rockville, Maryland 20850.
Past honorees of the African American Living Legends Awards include:
- 2022: Ida Pearl Green, Rosalyn Cain King, Anita Neal, Ambassador Curtis Ward, Alma Lewis Williams.
- 2021: Elwood Rafael Gray, Sterling King Jr., Willie Mackey King, John Macklin, Hercules Pinkney.
- 2020: No Event.
- 2019: Winston A. Anderson, Irene Coleman, Warren Crutchfield, Arva M. Jackson, The Reverend Ruby Reese Moone, Arthur L. Williams.
- 2018: Sol Graham, Samuel C. Hamilton. Arthur Holmes, Jr., Harvey Ziegler.
- 2017: Christine Clarke, Wilma K. Holmes, Ruby A. Rubens, Odessa M. Shannon.
- 2016: Delores Lincoln-Willis.
- 2015: Irma Ramsey Cuéllar, Marilyn Hughes Gaston, Lorena Elizabeth Mosby.
