1984

Dr. Winona Fletcher

1985

Mr. Douglas Turner Ward

1986

Mr. Joseph Adkins

1987

NO AWARD

1988

Mr. W. Drury Cox

1989

Dr. Thomas Pawley

1990

Mr. Larry Leon Hamlin

1990

Ms. Marla Gibbs

1990

Mr. Horace Caple

1991

Dr. Floyd L. Sandle

1992

Dr. Allen Williams

1993

Dr. Robert Stevenson

1994

NO AWARD

1995

Dr. H. D. Flowers, III

1996

Dr. Loften Mitchell

1997

Dr. Alex Marshall

1998

Ms. Esther Rolle

1999

NO AWARD

2000

Dr. Allen Williams

2001

Dr. Ted Shine

2002

Ms. Judi Ann Mason

2003

Mr. Samm Art Williams

2004

Ms. Pearl Cleage

2005

Dr. Tommie “Tonea” Stewart

2006

Mr. Bill Cobbs

2007

Ms. Erykah Badu