Mount Moriah Baptist Church hosted the Hunt County African American Leadership Conference’s 2015 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Awards Ceremony on Jan. 18 in Commerce.
Rev. Peter Johnson of Dallas, a former associate of King, delivered the afternoon’s keynote address. Johnson participated in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as a student activist in the 1960s and continues similar work today with the Dallas-based Institute for Nonviolence.
Local speakers and presenters included Jason Cunningham. Rev. Cordell Jackson, T.J. Hilburn, Harry Turner, State Rep. Dan Flynn, Commerce Mayor John Ballotti, Noah Nelson, LaVelle Hendricks and Rev. Larry Dixon.
Award recipients included:
Spiritual Award: Douglas Raine
Political Award: The Honorable Judge Andy Bench
Education- Jeanne Lay and Deanna Hays
Doctor of the Year: Dr. Greg Hulsey
Spirit of Service: Charlotte Spence-Scott
Choice of Excellence: T.J. Hilburn
Faithfulness: Bill Relford
Business: Lulu’s Burgers
King’s Kids: Noah Howell
First Responders: Cameron Foster and Scott Yowell
Law Enforcement: Angella Price
Spirit of Commitment: Erica Contreras
MLK Scholars (Commerce ISD): Kassady Todhunter, Madison McCracken, Trey Grubert, Samuel Raseberry
MLK Scholars (Texas A&M University-Commerce): Kenneth Riffe and LaTisha Hearne
Social Change: Clothe-A-Child
Legacy of the King: Daniel J. Perkins
Pastor of the Year: Jeff Johnson
MLK Teachers of the Year: Nancy Hill, Wanda Beane, Tracy Crews, Matt Brewer
Church of the Year: Bread of Life
Spirit of Dedication: Bobby Holder
Family of the Year: Kerry and Tracy Crews
Evangelism: Dwight King
Employer of the Year: Texas A&M University-Commerce
Visionary Award: Dina Sosa
Loyalty: Michael Beane and Kathleen Hooten
MLK Humanitarian Award: Commerce Community Cares
MLK Media: John Mark Dempsey
MLK Man of the Year: Willie Blow
MLK Woman of the Year: Betty Casselberry
MLK Citizen of the Year: Paul Voss
MLK People of the Year: Stacy Jackson, Deryck Crosby, Rhenda Hines, Cynthia Potter, Danny Crosby, Starlin Reynolds, Mona Beacham
MLK County Award: Fred Farley
Spirit of Valor: Ted Oats
MLK Volunteer Persons of the Year: Toys for Tots
MLK Employees of the Year: Linda King, Ludonna Smithers and Alicia Currin
MLK Lifetime Achievement Award: Billy Reed, Dr. Bob Johnson and Tony Henry
