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.
Past Recipients
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