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Among the recipients have been philanthropist E. O. Robinson, Courier-Journal publisher Barry Bingham, future Nobel laureate William N. Lipscomb Jr., Vice President of the United States Alben W. Barkley - as well as those whose service was almost anonymous. The latter include Patrick Smith, who in retirement built homes for the poor on three continents; Earl Ogata, who devoted years to serving Lexington’s poor, alcoholic, and homeless, led Spanish and Japanese churches, and provides a home to international students through the International Fellowship Program; Elizabeth Rebmann, who, while on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Kentucky National Guard, worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people there; and Joshua Nadzam, who volunteered extensively with the Catholic Action Center, the Kentucky Refugee Ministry, Ronald McDonald House, God’s Pantry, the Hope Center, and headed the campus “Soles for Souls” shoe drive. These individuals gave their time and energy to improve the lives of others.

2022 - 2000

2021: Marilyn Daniel, Citizen; Michelle Kuiper; Ranym Nenneh

2020: Yvette Hourigan, Citizen; Kaitlyn Frick; Joseph Walden

2019: Ashraf Fhamy, citizen; Nadia Benali, Citizen; Dealla Samadi; Beau Revlett

2018: Emily Jones, Citizen; Madison Conroy; Esias Bedingar

2017: Cagney Coomer Felton, Citizen; Kaylee Hicks; Kyle Hancock

2016: Tanya Torp, Citizen; Caroline Engle; Jason Schubert

2015: Linda Gorton, Citizen; Grace Trimble; Max Godby

2014: Debra Hensley, Citizen; Katie Skarvan; Drew Ritzel

2013: Jennifer W. Mynear, Citizen; Patrick B. Johnson; Andrea J. Kohlman

2012: Earl T. Ogata, Citizen; Elizabeth A. Rebmann; Joshua M. Nadzam

2011: Deborah Goonan, Citizen; Anna Lisa Hays

2010: Patrick Hogan Smith, Citizen; Rebecca Elizabeth Linares

2009: Patricia Freeman, Citizen; Corinne Keel; Aun Munis

2008: William R. Grimes, Citizen; Megan K. Tolley; Joseph David Ritchie

2007:  Linda A Harvey, Citizen; Tara Bonistall; Christopher George Garnett

2006:  Mahabeen Rafiuddin, Citizen; Monica Lee Hobson; Daniel Stephen Turner

2005: Judy Harrison, Citizen; Megan Sonya Thomas; Brandon Edward Leo Fenley

2004: Virginia Marsh Bell, Citizen; Amelia C. Brown; Albert Kalim

2003: Curtis William Absher, Citizen; Jonathan Dewaal Green; Andrea Joy Murray

2002: Don Ball, Citizen; Amanda Holloway; Jay Varellas

2001: Patrick P. DeLuca, Citizen; Kristina Marie Talbert-Slagle; Clayton Thomas Dunn

2000: Doris Fooks Rosenbaum, Citizen; Kasey Shannon Buckles; George Randall Lawson

1999 - 1980

1999

Joy E. Hembree, Citizen

Melanie Bell Cruz

Henry J. Curtis, Jr.

1998

Brenda S. Oldfield, Citizen

Katherine Leigh Chiles (Katy)

Jeffrey Kyle Sheppard

1997

Alfred Crabb, Jr., Citizen

Laura J. Keith

William David Johnson

1996

Larry Bell, Citizen

Damonica Gail Huff

Roger McCain Brown

1995

Jean Cravens, Citizen

Paul Douglas Sullivan

Mary Jane Regester

1994

Lucille Little, Citizen

Wesley Butler

Jean Jackson

1993

Garland M. Bastin, Citizen

Susan Kim Dupree

David Wilton Pace

1992

Frances Ruth Shively, Citizen

Melinda Sue Lovett

Eric Douglas Coleman

1991

Robert Gordon “Dean” Matheson, Citizen

Cheri Lynn Orme

Daryle L. Cobb

1990

David Michael Richey, Citizen

Kathryn Anne Beach

Patton Ray Hart

1989

Gloe L. Bertram, Citizen

Angela Mills Motley

Jon Lamos

1988

Richard E. Cooper, Citizen

Julie Chemberlin Quick

Charles Anthony Jones

1987

Gloria Walton Singletary, Citizen

Laura Jan Lovelace

John Paul Menkhaus

1986

Thomas P. Bell, Citizen (Awarded posthumously)

Jo Ann Rayburn Palmer

Benjamin Lyle Clifford

1985

Abby L. Marlatt, Citizen

Cynthia Gertrude Wilburn

Walter Allen Shewmaker

1984

Bernard Mason Johnson, Citizen

Jennifer Ann Dorsey

James Glen Gray

1983

William F. Wagner, Citizen

Rebecca Alice Ewalt

Robert Joseph Mangas

1982

Don W. Byars, II, Citizen

Judy Marie Madigan

Mark Leo Vonderheide

1981

Rose Mary Codell Brooks, Citizen

Patricia Whitford

Ashley Willis Ward

1980

Fannie Herman Miller, Citizen

Kyle Robert Macy

Martha Anne Stout Butler

1979 - 1960

1979

Ellis Ford Hartford, Citizen

Cheryl Lynn Trotter

Steven Dale Thomas

1978

Martin M. White, Citizen

Shirleen Kay Sutton

Jackie Lamont Givens

1977

Marion Brooke Sprague, Citizen

Georgia Louise Brock

Stephen Terhune Tamme

1976

Hunter M. Adams, Citizen

Lois Jean Stocking

William Judson Shaw

1975

Mrs. Genevieve Allen Murray, Citizen

Bette Jane Dollase

Joseph H. Kinnarney

1974

Alberta Coleman, Citizen

Tracy Ann Bruce

Kris W. Kimel

1973

Elizabeth Neil Kirwan, Citizen

Cynthia Anne Gouzie

Richard Elliot Day

1972

Smith D. Broadbent, Jr., Citizen

Helen Anne Jones

Damon R. Talley

1971

Barkley Moore, Citizen

Belle Finley Bassett

Stephen Lloyd Tichenor

1970

Miss Lula Hale, Citizen

Martha Ellen Harney

Don Graeter

1969

Joy Bale, Citizen

Michael Farmer

Taft McKinstry

1968

Samuel VanderMeer, Citizen

Nancy Fitch Bryant

William Nichols Eigel, III

1967

Thomson Ripley Bryany, Citizen

Johnnie Kielene Cross (Miss)

Clyde Lewis Kirtley

1966

Mrs. Sarah B. Holmes, Citizen

Sarah Anderson List

Willis K. Bright, Jr.

1965

Mrs. Herman Lee Donovan, Citizen

Sandra Kay Brock

Keith Hagan

1964

Robson Duncan McIntyre, Citizen

Glynda Sue Stephens

Larry Lovell

1963

R.R. Dawson, Citizen

Ann Gorson Evans (Mrs. John Joseph Greely, III)

David William Graham

1962

Dr. Rufus B. Atwood, Citizen

Myra Leigh Tobin

Constantine William (Deno) Curris

1961

Prof. John Sherman Horine, Citizen

Joyce Ann Malcomb

Leroy Seaton McMullan

1960

Harriett Drury Van Meter, Citizen

Sidney Davis Crouch (Miss)

Robert Wadlington White

1959 - 1940

1959

Henry Fischer, Citizen

Nancy Todd Foster (Mrs. John Anson)

Richard Cornelius Roberts

1958

Marian Dupuy Williamson, Citizen

Mary Holmes Kauffman (Mrs. David H. Vaughn)

Samuel Roy Woodall, Jr.

1957

Statie Estelle Erikson, Citizen

Barbara Jean Roberts (Mrs. Paul E. Schrading)

Richard Leroy Lehman

1956

Walter Cole Jetton, Citizen

Betty Jo Martin (Mrs. Charles E. Palmer, Jr.)

Paul Ray Eggum (Dr.)

1955

Enna Jodephine Woerner, Citizen

Ann Marie O’Roark (Mrs. J.F. McKirachan)

Leslie White Morris, III

1954

Lewis Franklin Allen, Citizen

Elaine Moore (Mrs. Raymond G. Turenne)

Diogenes Allen (Rev.)

1953

Mary Belknap Gay, Citizen

Ruth Ann Maggard (Mrs. Hugh Alan Storrow)

Jess Lewis Gardner

1952

Dr. Alice Newcome Pickett, Citizen

Ann Gleaves Carson (Mrs. Thomas H. Asbury)

John Tilden Ballentine

1951

Thomas Poe Cooper, Citizen

Janet Allen Anderson (Mrs. James C. Graff)

James Richard Line

1950

Ezra L Gillis, Citizen

Sara Mae Greene (Mrs. Rezin Caleb Howell)

Eugene Ryburn Weakley

1949

Alben W. Barkley, Citizen

Mary Sue McWhirter (Mrs. Harold Thurman)

Charles Edward Whaley

1948

Paul Garrett Blazer, Citizen

Helen Gibson Hutchcraft (Mrs. Franklin E. Moak)

Harry Russell Conrad

1947

William Perry King, Citizen

Sara Lee Trabue (Mrs. Frank Lacy, Jr.)

Frank Selby Hurst

1946

Harry W. Schacter, Citizen

Betty Lee Fleishman (Mrs. Sam Fein)

Edward Albert Bary (Rev.)

1945

Joshua Burgess, Citizen

Virginia Stuart Baskett (Mrs. D. Leach, Jr.)

Scott Reed

1944

Alonzo Willard Fortune, Citizen

Helen Louise Harrison

James Henry Saunders (Dr.)

1943

William H. Courtney, Citizen

Myrtle P. Binkley (Mrs. W.T. Land)

Robert H. Hillenmeyer

1942

Harry Vernon McChesney, Citizen

Elizabeth Garrard South (Mrs. Thomas E. Jones)

Joe Atkerson Gayle

1941

Barry Bingham, Citizen

Jean Marie McConnell (Mrs. Norman Chrisman, Jr.)

William N. Lipcomb, Jr. (Dr.)

1940

No Citizen

Jeanne Russell Barker (Mrs. Robert Alexander Nolan)

Louis Tillman Iglehart

1939 - 1927

1939

S. Ballard Thurston, Citizen

Ruth Johnson (Mrs. George H. Tinker)

Arthur Plummer

1938

Frances Jewell McVey, Citizen

Rae Lewis (Mrs. Guy F. Vansant, Jr.)

Roger Brown (Harlan R. Brown, Jr.)

1937

No Citizen

Dorothy Whalen (Mrs. Robert H. Grace)

Ike Moore

1936

George Goodwin, Citizen

France Kerr (Mrs. A.E. Barnes, Jr.)

Elvis Stahr

1935

Mrs. Mary Breckinridge, Citizen

Lucy Jean Anderson

Henry McCowan

1934

Dr. Charles W. Welch, Citizen

Jeane Spears Peak (Mrs. Earl R. Michel)

Walter Hugger Steitler

1933

No Citizen

Jany Dyer (Mrs. James Phillip Arnold)

George Skinner

1932

Katherine Pettit, Citizen

Elizabeth Poole (Mrs. St. George T. Arnold)

Robert Allen Wise

1931

E.O. Robinson, Citizen

Nancy Schrugham (Mrs. William L. Beck)

Rex Allison

1930

Max Brunswich Nahm, Citizen

Elizabeth Cramer (Mrs. Charles A. Schoene)

John Benson

1929

Sam Wilson, Citizen

Margaret Gooch (Mrs. Margaret G. Kiser)

William Glanz

1928

Linda Neville, Citizen

Charlsey Smith (Mrs. Donald B. Sutherland)

Gayle Mohney

1927

Lewis Smith, Citizen

Jeannette Metcalf

John Rachel