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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to Present the 2021 Inez Zeigler McAbee and William Harvey Zeigler Humanitarian Award and Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Noon, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021

 Executive Office Building, Executive Auditorium Lobby Level

101 Monroe Street, Rockville


On Friday, Montgomery County Marc Elrich will present the inaugural Inez Zeigler McAbee and William Harvey Zeigler Humanitarian Award and the 2021 Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards. The event will recognize the essential role that volunteers play in the success of Montgomery County and honor some of the County’s most distinguished volunteers and community servants. The event will be emceed by WUSA9’s Allison Seymour and Marc Clarke.


One of the highlights of the event will be William Harvey Zeigler, who is 101, talking about his work in the community and the award to honor him and his sister.


Inez Zeigler McAbee & William Harvey Zeigler Humanitarian Award

As pioneers before, during and after the civil rights movement, both Inez and Harvey Zeigler’s lifelong commitment to civil rights, community service, and local activism provide a fitting resume and list of distinguished accomplishments make it more than appropriate for the County Executive’s Humanitarian of the Year Award to be renamed the Inez Zeigler McAbee and William Harvey Zeigler Humanitarian Award. The award will be given annually in recognition of the County’s commitment to Human Rights and in observance of Universal Human Rights Day. It will be presented to:


Harvey Zeigler, a community and civic activist, mentor, and historian. During his lifelong pursuit for equality and justice, his accomplishments included striking down job discrimination and promoting the hiring of African Americans in Government agencies, in the Montgomery County Public Schools and in the Montgomery County Fire Department.


The Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards, honoring community leaders, change agents, and role models who have made extraordinary contributions to Montgomery County over the course of their lives, will be presented to:


  • Byron A. Johns, a leading advocate for educational equity for over 10 years, and currently serving as the Education Chair for the Montgomery County branch of the NAACP. Mr. Johns is also a co-founder of the Black and Brown Coalition.
  • Blanca Kling, who passed away in January 2021, served Montgomery County residents for four decades as a media spokesperson, community leader, and victims’ rights advocate.
  • Diego Uriburu, co-founder of Identity, an organization that creates opportunities for Latino and other historically underserved youth to help realize their highest potential and thrive. Mr. Uriburu is also a co-founder of the Black and Brown Coalition.


For more information on the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Awards and previous recipients, click here.

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Media Contact: Barry Hudson 240-300-7348