Previous Winners

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