Montgomery County is accepting nominations for the 2026 African American Living Legends Award, which honors African American residents age 75 and older who have made significant contributions to the community through leadership and service.
County Executive Marc Elrich will host the 11th annual awards, recognizing individuals whose work has helped shape the county’s cultural and civic landscape. Nominations are open through May 20 and must include a written narrative, a list of contributions, and a photo if available. The awards ceremony will take place on June 20 at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown as part of the county’s Juneteenth celebration. Full press release below courtesy Montgomery County:
“Montgomery County is accepting nominations for the 2026 African American Living Legends Award, which recognizes African American elder residents who have dedicated their lives to service, leadership, and strengthening the community.
County Executive Marc Elrich will host the 11th African American Living Legends Awards to honor distinguished individuals whose lives and work have significantly shaped the cultural and civic landscape of Montgomery County’s African American community. The award highlights elders whose lasting contributions have often been made without seeking recognition or notoriety.
Nominations are open for African American community members who are at least 75 years of age and have helped shape the County’s cultural heritage. Nominees may have demonstrated excellence in fields such as business, health, media, sports, education, law, ministry, community service, medicine, or the arts.
“The African American Living Legends Award recognizes individuals whose lifelong commitment to service has strengthened Montgomery County in meaningful and lasting ways,” said County Executive Elrich. “These honorees are community builders, mentors, and leaders whose contributions may not always be widely known, but whose impact is deeply felt. By sharing their stories, we honor our collective history and inspire future generations.”
The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, May 20. Final selection will be made by the County Executive.
Submissions must include:
- A narrative of no more than two pages explaining why the nominee should be honored.
- A separate list detailing the nominee’s contributions to the community.
- A preferred photo of the nominee, if available; photos may not be returned.
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.
The awards presentation will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown. The ceremony will serve as the first event in the County’s Juneteenth celebration. Students from the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program of the Montgomery County NAACP Branch are expected to perform.
Presentation of the African American Living Legends Awards is part of Montgomery County’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission, and the African American Advisory Group sponsor the program.
For more information, contact James Stowe at [email protected].
Past African American Living Legends Award honorees include:
- 2025: James Baker, Dr. Judi Moore Latta, Catherine Matthews, Jo Ann Owens, Betty Holston Smith, Del. W. Gregory Wims
- 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, 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”
