Awards

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2012

2011

  • Stone Award- Outstanding Local Politician
  • National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) 2011 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award

2010

  • Trinity Community Coalition Outreach “Outstanding Community Performance” Award
  • American Bar Association “Day Award”
  • Champion of Consumer Rights from The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA)
  • Gridiron Greats Award for his work reducing head injuries in football

2009

  • America Hero Award from ProtectingAmerica.org
  • 14th Annual Stone Award Politician of the Year
  • Exhoodus Council’s first annual Urban Peace and Courage Award
  • “Candle on the Bluff Award” presented by the Memphis Chapter of Morehouse College Alumni and New Olivet Baptist Church
  • Humane Society “Humane Champion” award.

2008

  • The Vida Foundation’s D. Emelio Castelar Work Recognition Award (International Humanitarian Award presented in Madrid, Spain)
  • Memphis Flyer “Best of Memphis” Reader’s Poll: Best Memphian
  • Selected as one of the Forward 50 by The Forward, America’s largest Jewish newspaper, recognizing the most influential Jewish Americans of the year
  • 13th Annual Stone Awards Recipient: Most Outstanding Politician
  • Tennessee Communication Association’s Communicator of the Year; Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Award of Excellence for Public Service
  • Tennessee Principals Association “Friend of Education Award”
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter AKAward For Outstanding Public Service in the Area of the Economic Keys to Success
  • Honorary Degree from LeMoyne-Owen College

2007

  • Planned Parenthood “Bob James Award”
  • Memphis Gridiron Show Headliner Award – Mid-South Newsmaker of the Year
  • Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Region IV Political Award
  • Business Tennessee 2007 Power 100: Top 100 Most Powerful People in Tennessee
  • U.S. Humane Society 2007 Humane Champion Award

2006

  • Tennessee Humane Association Legislative Achievement Award – In Recognition and Appreciation of Continued Support of Animal Related Legislation.

2004

  • Shelby County Democratic Party “William W. (Bill) Farris Political Leadership Award”Business Tennessee Magazine “Power 100″
  • University of Memphis Society “Walter Barret Distinguished Service Award”
  • University of Memphis “Eye of the Tiger Award”

2003

  • National College Board “Excellence in Education” award, presented at NCSL Convention
  • Boys and Girls clubs of Tennessee “Legislator of the Year Award”
  • Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist’s “Legislator of the Year”

2002

  • Tennessee Human Rights Campaign “Public Leadership Award”

2001

  • Governor’s Awards in the Arts “Leadership Award”
  • Executive Seminar for Legislative Leaders, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

2000

  • AAA Legislator of the Year Award, Holocaust Commission Award
  • AutoZone Park Opening Day First Pitch

1999

  • TN Pediatrics Society Friend of Children Award

1998

  • Memphis Arts Council/”Memphis Theatre Award”

1997

  • Common Cause of Tennessee “Bird Dog Award” for ethics

1996

  • University of Tennessee-Memphis Faculty Senate’s Presidential Citation & Memphis Magazine Reader’s Poll “Best Local Politician”

1995

  • Lorin Hollander Arts Award from the Tennessee Arts Academy & Memphis Women’s Political Caucus Good Guys Award

1994

  • Unitarian Fellowship Dr. Peter Cooper Award

1992

  • Tennesseans for the Arts Advocate Award, Tennessee Bill of Rights Award
  • Tennessee Association of County Election Officials Award
  • Common Cause of Tennessee “Bird Dog Award” for ethics
  • Sierra Club “Green List” top rating in Senate

1991

  • Community Mental Retardation Agencies of Tennessee Legislator of the Year Award
  • The Blues Foundation Keeping the Blues Alive Award

1988

  • Save Shelby Farms Award

1987

  • Memphis Arts Council Commendation