Awards and Commendations
Awards:
1979 GA State Appointed Lieutenant Colonel
1987 Star Legislator Award
1996 The UNCF “Masked” Award
1996 Health Service Award
2001 Haynes-Taylor Award YMCA
2002 Community Health Super Hero Award
2003 Community Health Super Hero Award
2003 Kappa Citizenship Award, 52nd Southeastern Province Council Meeting Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
2005 Whitney M. Young Jr. Community Service Award – Urban League of Greater Columbus, Inc.
2006 National Family Week Advocacy Award
2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award
2006 The Family Center, Inc. Advocacy Award
2007 Spirit of Enterprise Award – US Chamber of Commerce
2007 Impact Award – National Peanut Buying Points Association
2007 GA ACTE Policy Maker of the Year
2007 Legislator of the Year - Licensed Professional Counselors Association of GA
2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award
2008 Honorary Black Belt – Brunson Martial Arts
2008 CLEO Legacy Diversity Award, a Tireless Dedicated Public Servant
2008 Community Service Award, The Courier Eco Latino
2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award
2009 “Keeper of the Flame” Award
2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award
2010 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award
2010 Georgia Peanut Special Award “Work Horse”
2010 Civil Liberty Award, IPOE of the World
2010 Great Idea Award, Teenage Parenting Center
2010 TV One Award For Championing Choice and Diversity in Cable Television Programming
2010 “Friend of the National Parks Award” from National Parks Conservation Association
“2011 Friend of Labor Award” presented by GA AFL-CIO Labor
2011 Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) Champions’ Award
2011 African American Golfers Hall of Fame “Leadership Award”
2012 “Our Star in Washington Award,” Terrell County NAACP
2012 “Good Scout” Award from the National Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
2012 The Patriot Award from the Georgia Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve
2012 Congressional Partnership Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
2012 Distinguished Service Award from the American Logistics Association
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America
The Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The “Man of the Year” Award from the Men's Progressive Club of Columbus, Georgia
The “Friend of the Children” Award from the Child Advocacy Coalition
The Legislative Impact Award from Military Spouse Magazine
George "Buck" Gillispie Award for Meritorious Service
HBCU/PBI Champion Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
The Charles Dick Medal of Merit
Commendations:
1993 The 42nd Southeastern Province Council
1994 The Gamma Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Founders’ Day Program
1995 Young’s Tae Kwon Do Championships
1995 Rural Economic Communications Development
1996 GA Power Olympic Team
1996 The Black History Month
1997 Inaugural Parade, the Muscogee Troopers
1999 Stewart Webster Rural Health, Inc. Expansion funding for City of Richland
1999 The Citizens’ Flag Alliance, Inc. 106th Congress
2000 School of the Americas
2000 Commissioned as Honorary Texan by the Honorable Rodney Ellis, Acting Governor of Texas
2002 Andrew College Education Program
2003 Annual Men’s Day Service
2003 CBFT3 Columbus Biosolids Flow Through Thermophilic Treatment
2004 Quitman County Family Connection
2004 The American Legion
2005 Historic Columbus Foundation
2005 Reese Road Elementary School
2005 S.P.E.A.K. Washington Tour
2005 Farewell International Military Students of The Infantry Captains Career Course
2006 A.J. McClung YMCA & Marshall Movers –Lights on After School Event
2006 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. –Platinum Sponsor DR. King Breakfast
2006 Muscogee County Junior Marshall Program
2006 De Bouch Chapter American Business Women’s Association
2006 Junior Marshall Program
2007 MLK Unity Award Breakfast, Delta Iota Foundation, Inc.
2007 Ft Benning Retirement Appreciation Day
2007 Disabled American Veterans
2008 Faith Community Outreach Center Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Performance and Lasting Contributions
2008 National Peanut Research Laboratory working for National Peanut Research Industry
2008 Operation Stand Down
2008 Edgewood Red Devils Snapper Bowl Tournament
2009 Volunteers for Organizing America Certificate for recognizing support of President Obama’s budget and bold vision for America
2009 SOWEGA Libraries Certificate of Appreciation for Continued Support
2009 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. –Platinum Sponsor DR. King Breakfast
2009 Greater Ward Chapel AME Church
2009 Operation Stand Down
2009 Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church
2009 Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians
2010 Columbus Family Connection
2010 Men’s Progressive Club of Columbus, Inc.
2010 Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians
2011 Pastor’s Appreciation Day
2011 Head Start Volunteer
2011 Chamber of Commerce
2011 Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians
2012 Outstanding Support Appreciation, NGAGA (Georgia National Guard)
2012 US Mint Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Program, National Infantry Museum Foundation
2012 Stewart County Family Connection
The National Federation of Independent Business
Georgia Association of Educators; Georgia Municipal Association
Georgia School Bus Drivers Association
Georgia Council for the Arts
The Fraternal Order of Police
NADO Congressional Partnership Award
Ranger Training Brigade
The Emory Law Alumni Association
Reserve Officers Association
Youth Benefactor 1000 Club YMCA