2025 Winners:

Mayor Andre Dickens

2025 J.W. Fanning Award

Dr. & Mrs. Jim Buntin

2025 Frederick B. Kerr Service Award

Laura Hope Whitaker

2025 E. Dale Threadgill Community Service Award

Chris Carr

2025 Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. & Michelle Bryant-Johnson Distinguished Public Service Award

Nick Challen

2025 Cora Lee Fanning Award

J.W. FANNING AWARD

Presented in honor of J.W. Fanning to a Georgian whose state-wide contributions through progressive leadership and service have been broad in scope and rich in achievement.

2025 – Honorable Andre Dickens
2024 – Dan Cathy
2023 – Egbert Perry
2022 – Chief Justice Michael Boggs
2020/2021 – Justice Harold Melton
2019 – Chancellor Steve Wrigley
2018 – Julie Ewing Hunt
2017 – R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr.
2016 – Philip A. Wilheit, Sr.
2015 – Henry M. Huckaby
2014 – Robert Scott Jepson, Jr.
2013 – Dan Amos
2012 – Alana Shepherd
2011 – Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron
2010 – Tom Cousins
2009 – Bernie Marcus
2008 – U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss
2007 – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson
2006 – Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.
2005 – Justice Robert Benham
2004 – Honorable Clarence Thomas
2003 – Secretary of State Cathy Cox
2002 – President Jimmy Carter
2001 – Congressman John Lewis
2000 – James H. Blanchard
1999 – Governor Roy Barnes
1998 – Lindsay Thomas
1997 – Governor Zell & First Lady Shirley Miller
1996 – Andrew Young
1995 – U.S. Senator Paul D. Coverdell
1994 – William P. Payne
1993 – Fred C. Davison, Ph.D.
1992 – Joseph D. Tanner
1991 – S. Truett Cathy
1990 – Millard Fuller
1989 – Honorable Griffin Bell
1988 – Deen Day Smith
1987 – George Busbee
1986 – Ivan Allen, Jr.
1985 – Glenn Burton
1984 – Professor Dean Rusk
1983 – J. Pollard Turman
1982 – Harley Langdale, Jr.
1981 – William R. Bowdoin
1980 – Jasper Dorsey
1979 – H.G. Pattillo
1978 – U.S. Senator Sam Nunn

FREDERICK B. KERR SERVICE AWARD

Presented in memory of Frederick B. Kerr to Leadership Georgia members who have demonstrated enthusiastic and active support of Leadership Georgia on a continuing and consistent basis.

2025 – Dr. and Mrs. Jim Buntin
2024 – Katie & Lynn Dempsey
2023 – Gretchen & David Corbin
2022 – Fran and Russell Smith
2020/2021 – April and Brian Crow
2019 – Stephanie and Jeb Stewart
2018 – Honorable Horace J. Johnson
2017 – C. Jones Hooks
2016 – William H. Gross
2015 – Chris W. Riley
2014 – Ben J. Tarbutton III
2013 – Barbara Hampton
2012 – Frederick L. Daniels, Jr.
2011 – Doug Carter
2010 – Bruce & Vicki Williamson
2009 – W. Daniel Sisson, Jr.
2008 – J. Andy Davis
2007 – Alston P. Watt, Joseph W. Montgomery
2006 – Tom Fitzgerald
2005 – Tavia McCuean
2004 – Dr. Spurgeon William Clark, III
2003 – Ted E. Lawrence & Warren A. Ragsdale
2002 – Rogers & Marcia Wade
2001 – E. Dale Threadgill
2000 – James L. Allgood
1999 – Woody Woodside, Duane & Carol Harris
1998 – Lynwood Hall
1997 – Sam R. Hunter, Jr.
1996 – Mimi & Allen Gudenrath
1995 – Alfred W. Jones, III
1994 – Mary Louise Hill
1993 – William H. Cribbs, Ph. D.
1992 – Philip & Mary Hart Wilheit
1991 – John L. Gornall
1990 – Calvin & DeAnn Hopkins
1989 – W.H. and Pam NeSmith
1988 – Marilyn Marks
1987 – David C. Garrett
1986 – John B. Hardman
1985 – William R. Bowdom, Jr.
1984 – Henrietta McArthur Singletary
1983 – Joseph A. Buck, III
1982 – Robert F. Hatcher
1981 – Donnie H. Morris

E. DALE THREADGILL COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Presented in honor of E. Dale Threadgill to Leadership Georgia members who have taken the principles learned in Leadership Georgia and put them to work in their communities. This award was first presented in Thomasville on November 12, 2004.

2025 – Laura Hope Whitaker
2024 – Cedric King and Ralph Staffins
2023 – Katie & Scott Chastain
2022 – Calvin Smyre
2020/2021 – John D. Borrow
2019 – Rodney Bullard
2018 – Eddie Staub
2017 – Dixie Truelove
2016 – James M. Jeter
2015 – Stacey Y. Abrams
2014 – James Paul Ferguson M.D.
2013 – Andrea Shelton
2012 – Drew Ferguson, III
2011 – Steve Car Michael Jones
2010 – Gwen Keyes Fleming
2009 – Michelle Nunn
2008 – Lisa M. Borders
2007 – H. Lee Perdue
2006 – June O‘Neal
2005 – Louise Hill
2004 – Amy Alexander Carter

H.G. "PAT" PATTILLO HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AWARD

Presented to an individual who has never participated in a Leadership Georgia class in appreciation for the support demonstrated during outreach to Leadership Georgia. This award was first presented in Dalton on September 18, 2008

2024 – Christopher Womack
2023 – Governor Brian Kemp
2020/2021 – Anne Threadgill
2019 – Gary Black
2016 – Michael L. Thurmond
2015 – W. Paul Bowers
2013 – Gov. Nathan Deal
2012 – Frank Barron
2009 – Geil Browning, Ph.D.
2008 – Mr. H.G. “Pat” Pattillo

JUDGE HORACE J. JOHNSON, JR. AND MICHELLE BRYANT-JOHNSON DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

An award presented in memory of Horace J. Johnson and in honor of Michelle Johnson. This award will be presented to an alum for overachievement through participation and contributions to Leadership Georgia while managing commitments of public service and non-profit careers. Its recipients embody the leadership principles of unity, innovation and mentorship.

2025 – Honorable Chris Carr
2024 – Steve C. Jones
2023 – Joy Lampley-Fortson
2022 – T. Rogers Wade

CORA LEE FANNING AWARD

Presented in memory of Cora Lee Fanning to the spouse of a current class member for outstanding participation and enthusiasm. This award was established at St. Simons Island on Saturday, May 15 1993.

2025 – Nick Challen
2024 – Laura Collins
2023 – Martez Favis
2022 – Sarah Hawkins Warren
2020/2021 – Daniel Stewart
2019 – Alison Reese
2018 – Sugar Yadav
2017 – Mack Vinton
2016 – Michael Harrison
2015 – Brian Crow
2014 – Lowery May
2013 – Peter Doig
2012 – Aimee Yrlas Simpson
2011 – Ralph Donaldson
2010 – Stephanie Austin
2009 – Tim Durden
2008 – Karen Cohilas
2007 – William Michael Morris
2006 – Roderick “Rocky” Sams
2005 – Eric Main
2004 – Julia Singletary
2003 – Kim Jinks
2002 – Ron Smith
2001 – Kim Chavez
2000 – Ned Blumenthal
1999 – Donnie Chapman
1998 – Celia Walker
1997 – Emily Hjort
1996 – Nancy McDougal
1995 – Anna Burns
1994 – Laura A. Dunwoody
1993 – Charles Williams
1992 – Kay Parker

Awards