Montgomery County Seeks Nominations for African American Living Legends Awards to be Presented at 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

For Immediate Release: Monday, May 5, 2025

Montgomery County is seeking nominations for its African American Living Legends Awards, which recognize residents age 75 and older who have dedicated their lives to service, advocacy and selfless acts of kindness to their community.

The awards will be presented during the County’s 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration, which will be held at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. This year’s theme is “Juneteenth: Pushing Back...the Fight for Freedom Is Not Over.” 

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will host the African American Living Legends Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20. The awards honor distinguished individuals whose lives and work have significantly shaped the cultural and civic landscape of Montgomery County’s African American community.

The community-wide Juneteenth Celebration will be held from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, also at BlackRock Center for the Arts.

“The African American Living Legends Awards recognize individuals whose lives have made this County better—not through headlines or positions of power, but through steady work, advocacy and service to others,” said County Executive Elrich. “Recipients of this award are our neighbors, teachers, organizers and elders who helped shape Montgomery County into the place it is today. Their stories are part of our collective history. I encourage people to take the time to think about who in their community has made that kind of difference, and to make sure they’re nominated for this award.”

To nominate someone for the African American Living Legends Award, submit a narrative of no more than two pages describing why the individual should be recognized. Submissions must include a list of the nominee’s community contributions.

Nominations are due by Saturday, June 1. Final selections will be made by the County Executive.

Nominations can be submitted by email or mail.

Email: [email protected]

Mail:
Montgomery County Office of Human Rights
Attn: African American Living Legend Nomination
21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 330
Rockville, MD 20850

For more information, visit the Office of Human Rights website.

Past African American Living Legends Award honorees include:

• 2024: Dr. Judith Docca, Edgar Dove, Janice Freeman, Roy Priest, Charles Thomas, Jr., Henry Williams, Sr.
• 2023: Henry Hailstock, Theresa Henderson, Pauline Johnson, Shelia Ogilvie, Vernon Ricks, Lt Colonel Shelton Ware
• 2022: Ida Pearl Green, Rosalyn Cain King, Anita Neal, Ambassador Curtis Ward, Alma Lewis Williams
• 2021: Elwood Rafael Gray, Sterling King Jr., Willie Mackey King, John Macklin, Hercules Pinkney
• 2020: No Event.
• 2019: Winston A. Anderson, Irene Coleman, Warren Crutchfield, Arva M. Jackson, The Reverend Ruby Reese Moone, Arthur L. Williams
• 2018: Sol Graham, Samuel C. Hamilton, Arthur Holmes, Jr., Harvey Ziegler
• 2017:  Christine Clarke, Wilma K. Holmes, Ruby A. Rubens, Odessa M. Shannon
• 2016: Delores Lincoln-Willis
• 2015: Irma Ramsey Cuéllar, Marilyn Hughes Gaston, Lorena Elizabeth Mosby

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Release ID: 25-188
Media Contact: Jennifer Garfinkel 240-962-1506
Categories: Award, Senior, Volunteer