Previous Award Winners
2022
2022 AWARD WINNERS:
Media and Technology Award – Daryl Maynard
https://www.wymt.com/2022/05/01/president-eastern-telephone-technologies-wins-leadership-award-media-technology/
Public Individual – Justin Maxson
https://www.wymt.com/2022/05/01/usda-deputy-under-secretary-wins-east-kentucky-leadership-award-public-individual/
Carolyn Sundy Award – Bishop Willie Lamb
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/29/bishop-willie-lamb-awarded-2022-east-kentucky-leadership-carolyn-sundy-award/
Private Individual – Judy Sizemore
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/29/arts-advocate-judy-sizemore-wins-east-kentucky-leadership-award/
Culture/Arts Award – Marlana Vanhoose
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/28/god-gave-me-gift-music-marlana-vanhoose-wins-east-kentucky-leadership-award/
Tony Turner Award - UPIKE
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/26/moving-mountains-maximizing-potential-upike-wins-east-kentucky-leadership-award/
Youth Leadership – Drew Hurley
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/25/east-kentucky-leadership-award-youth-leadership-goes-drew-hurley/
Organization Award – Pikeville YMCA
https://www.wymt.com/2022/04/25/2022-eastern-kentucky-leadership-organization-award-pikeville-ymca/
2021
THE 2021 EAST KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AWARDS HONORED THOSE WHO HAVE STEPPED UP FOR THE COMMUNITY DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS. FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, AND GOOD NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP OUT, CHECK ON NEIGHBORS, AND MAKE THE EFFORT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
2021 AWARD WINNERS:
SISTER JUDY YUNKER
DR. MARIA BRAMAN
CANE KITCHEN
JEFF CAPPS
CASSIE BURGESS
BRENDIA MOSES
2019
Public Individual Award– dr. Carolyn sundy
Private Individual Award – David davies and Marilyn schraeder
Culture/Arts Award– ann schertz
Organization Award – Challenger center hazard CTC — Thomas cravens
Media and Technology Award – Jaime lucke
Youth Leadership Award– char project, Harlan county high school — scott pace and team
Tony Turner Award – Dr. edsel godbey
2018
Public Individual Award– Ron Daley
Private Individual Award – Joe Stepp
Culture/Arts Award– Chris Stapleton
Organization Award – Appalachian Citizens Law Center
Media and Technology Award – Jerlene Rose
Youth Leadership Award– Belfry High School Science Classes – Dr. Chandran
Tony Turner Award – Dr. Grady Stumbo
2017
Public Individual: Dr. David McFaddin, Eastern Kentucky University
Private Individual: Bill Best
Media: Bruce Parson, The Holler
Culture/Arts: Warren Brunner
Organization: Jane Stephenson, New Opportunity School for Women
Tony Turner Award: Loyal Jones, Berea Appalachian Center
Youth Leadership: Chris Hall
2016
Public Individual: Lisa Calhoun and Jerry Williams, Ashland Independent School District
Private Individual: Janice Odom
Media: Chuck Mraz, Front Page
Culture/Arts: Foothills Eco-Agritourism
Organization: Appalachian Artisan Center
Tony Turner Award: Jordan Smith, winner of NBC's The Voice
Youth Leadership: William Louis Roach-Barrette
2015
Public Individual: Frank Justice, former mayor of Pikeville
Private Individual: Naomi Gail Spradlin
Media: Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader
Culture/Arts: Angaleena Presley
Organization: Kentucky Education Cooperative
Tony Turner Award: Judi Patton
Youth Leadership: STAY Project
2014
Public Individual: Jerry Rickett
Private Individual: JC Egnew
Media: Mike Tarter / Forcht Broadcasting
Culture/Arts: Sundy Best
Organization: Dan Smoot / UNITE
Tony Turner Award: Bob Mitchell
2013
Public Individual: Albey Brock
Private Individual: Robert Vaughn
Media: Matt Jones / Kentucky Sports Radio.com
Culture/Arts: Higher Ground Coalition
Organization: Pregnancy Care Center
Tony Turner Award: Peggy Satterly
2012
Public Individual: Gwenda Adkins
Private Individual: Denny & Jean Dorton
Media: no Media Award
Culture/Arts: Mountain Arts Center (MAC)
Organization: East KY Science Center
Tony Turner Award: Mike Mullins
2011
Public Individual: Donovan Blackburn
Private Individual: Bill & Linda Francis
Media: Appalachian News-Express
Culture/Arts: Artist Collaborative Theatre
Organization: MACED
Tony Turner Award: Willard Kinzer, Kinzer Drilling
2010
Public Individual: Glenn Leveridge
Private Individual: Joe Bowen
Media: Appalshop’s Appalachian Media Institute
Culture/Arts: Kathy Timmons Setterman
Organization: WYMT Mountain Classic Basketball & Scholarship Tournament
with special recognition of Archie Everage
2009
Public Individual: Paul Dole
Private Individual: Ron Eller
Media: Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues / Al Cross
Culture/Arts: Halfway To Hazard / Chad Warrix & David Tolliver
Organization: United Way of Southeastern KY / Gaylan Good
Tony Turner Award: Willie Blevins
2008
Public Individual: Shirley Hamilton
Private Individual: Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo
Media: Don Rigsby & the Traditional Music Program at MSU
Culture/Arts: Paul Brett Johnson
Organization: Pathways Addiction Program, Ashland
Tony Turner Award: Linda Gayheart
2007
Public Individual: Annette Napier
Private Individual: Burlin Coleman
Organization: Hillbilly Days - Howard Stratton & Grady Kinney
Culture/Arts: Linda Scott DeRosier
Media: David Hawpe, Courier-Journal
Tony Turner Award: Pastor Doug Abner & Pastor Ken Bolin
2006
Public Individual: Dr. Bruce Ayers
Private Individual: Cornelia Dozier Cooper
Organization: Eastern Kentucky Social Club, Lynch Chapter
Culture/Arts: George Ella Lyon
Media: Al Smith, “Comment on Kentucky”
Tony Turner Award: Muggins Bennett and Mike Howard
Special Award: Bernie Bickerstaff
2005
Public Individual: Hilda Legg
Private Individual: Herman Webb, Van Lear
Culture/Arts: Doug Adams, Letcher County
Organization: East Kentucky Corporation, CEO Tom Jones
Media: East Kentucky Broadcasting,
with special recognition to Walter May
Tony Turner Award: Bob Hutchinson, “McDonald’s of East KY”
2004
Public Individual: Sylvia Lovely
Private Individual: J. Maynard Thoma
Culture/Arts: Jessie Stewart Foundation,
special recognition to Dr. James Gifford
Organization: Grayson Area Chamber Commerce /Carter County Fair Board
Tony Turner Award: Sid Stewart
2003
Public Individual: David Lollis
Private Individual: J. Phil Smith
Organization: Hazard Perry County Community Ministries, Gerri Roll
Culture/Arts: Garry Barker, KY Folk Art Center
Media: Dee Davis, Center for Rural Strategies
2002
Public Individual: Rocky Adkins, East KY Legislator
Private Individual: James H. Booth, Entrepreneur
Organization: Brushy Fork Institute
Culture / Arts: Gurney Norman
Media: Big Sandy News, Allen Scott Perry, III
Special Award: Dr. Edward Hughes
2001
Public Individual: Roger Recktenwald
Private Individual: Mike Duncan
Organization: Lotts Creek Community Center, Alice Whitaker, Director
Culture / Arts: Tom Whitaker, Prestonsburg Community College
Media: Gearheart Communications, Paul Gearheart
2000
Public Individual: Secretary Ann Latta, Tourism Cabinet
Private Individual: Dr. C. Vernon Cooper, Jr.
Organization: Pine Mountain Settlement School
Culture / Arts: Harlan Boys Choir
Media: WHLN Radio, Harlan County
Special Award: Adron Doran
1999
Public Individual: William Weinberg, Attorney-at-Law
Private Individual: Chad Perry
Organization: David School, with special recognition to Danny Green
Culture / Arts: Loyal Jones
Media: WMMT Radio, Whitesburg
Special Award: Ron Eller
1998
Public Individual: Mayor William D. Gorman, City of Hazard
Private Individual: Joe and Gaynell Begley, Letcher County
Organization: Riverside Christian School, Mr. Don Hostetler
Culture & Arts: Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, KY
Media: WMKY Public Radio, Morehead and WEKU/ WEKH Public Radio, Eastern
Special Award: Ernie West
1997
Public Individual: Greg Stumbo
Private Individual: Dr. Mary Fox
Organization: Frontier Housing Corporation
Culture & Arts: Lee Sexton, Musician
Media: Kentucky Explorer Magazine, Charles Hays
1996
Special Award: Governor Paul Patton
Public Individual: Dr. Grady Stumbo
Private Individual: Clifton & Ruby H. Caudill, Letcher County
Organization: Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency, Charles L. Baker
Culture / Arts: Greater Hazard Community Concert Series
Media: Louise B. Hatmaker ,Newspaper Editor and Publisher
1995
Special Award: Cawood Ledford, KY Sports Announcer
Public Individual: Harold “Hal” Rogers, U.S. Congressman
Private Individual: Raymond Bradbury, Business & Civic Leader
Organization: Whitley County Communities for Children
Culture & Arts: Kentucky Mine Museum, Benham, KY, James B. Goode
Media: Daily Independent, Ashland, “Religious Magazine”
1994
Public Individual: Clayton Little, State Representative
Private Individual: Deborah Stevens, Director, Doves, Inc.
Organization: United Methodist Mountain Mission, Lee Hubbard
Culture & Arts: Albert Stewart, Editor & Author
Media: Troublesome Creek Times, Ron Daley, Editor
1993
Public Individual: John Whisman, Founder of KY ADD’s
Private Individual: C. Louise Caudill, M.D. Morehead
Organization: Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
Culture & Arts: Kentucky Folk Art Center, Morehead State University
Media: Floyd County Times
1992
Public Individual: Lt. Governor Paul Patton
Private Individual: Lois Weinberg, Educator, Hindman
Organization: Appalachian Research & Defense Fund, John Rosenberg
Arts: Al Cornett, Artist
Media: KET, Virginia Fox
New Comer: Kentucky Opry, Billie J. Osborne
Special Tribute: Governor Bert T. Combs
1991
Public Individual: Senator Benny R. Bailey
Private Individual: Frank Justice, Ashland Oil & Jerry Howell, Jackson
Organization: Hindman Settlement School, Mike Mullins
Culture: Appalachian Celebration, Morehead State University
Arts: Jenny Wiley Theatre
Media: Clarence “Soc” Clay, Outdoor Writer & Lexington Herald Leader
Special Award: Harry Caudill, Writer
1990
Public Citizen: William Hambley, Pikeville Mayor
Private Citizen: Father Ralph Beiting & Eula Hall
Organization: Lend-A-Hand Mission, Erma Gall & Peggy Kenner
Culture & Arts: J.P. & Annadeene Fraley, Folk Musicians
Media: Mountain Eagle - Tom & Pat Gish
1989
Public Citizen: Governor Bert T. Combs
Private Citizen: G.B. Johnson, Business & Civic Leader
Organization: Forward in the 5th & Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Culture: Appalshop, Whitesburg
Arts: James Still, Poet
Media: WYMT-TV, Tony Turner, Hazard
