Complete list of the Rogers High School National Black History Month Assembly award recipients, 1972-2025
By:
M. Catherine Callahan
This list accompanies a story in our January/February 2025 issue of Newport Life Magazine. Be sure to find a print copy at one of our local retail locations.
George T. Downing Award for Adults
1972
Mr. Oliver Burton *
1973
Mrs. Miriam Smith
1974
Mr. Lyle E. Matthews *
1975
Mr. Theodore Jones *
1976
Mr. Ernest Gibbons *
1977
Mrs. Sarah Pener*
1978
Mrs. Eleanor L. Keys*
1979
Mrs. Madeline Humphries* and Mrs. Elizabeth Canavan*
1980
Reverend Robert L. Williams *
1981
Mr. Miguel Lopes
1982
Mayor Paul L. Gaines*
1983
Mrs. Pauline Moye
1984
Mrs. Anita Dewitt*
1985
Mr. George H.Triplett
1986
Mrs. Ruby L. Gray *
1987
Mr. James Winters
1988
Mrs. Mora Hammonds *
1989
Mrs. Florence Gray*
1990
Mrs. Jean Hicks *
1991
Mr. Hayward E. Corry
1992
Mrs. Cynthia P. Smothers
1993
Mrs. Shirley A. Cherry
1994
Mr. Thornton Drummond *
1995
Dr. William H. Robinson, Jr.*
1996
Mrs. JoEva Gaines
1997
Mrs. Edna Wells
1998
Mrs. Joyce Williams*
1999
Mr. Ermino Lisbon *
2000
Mr. William (Bill) Weston, Sr. *
2001
Mrs. Maxine Bradford-Shavers
2002
Mr. Edward Paige*
2003
Ms. Catherine (Katie) Grovell*
2004
Mrs. Victoria Johnson
2005
Mrs. Thelma Williams
2006
Mr. Leroy White*
2007
Mr. Keith Stokes
2008
Ms. Cheryl G. Robinson
2009
Mr. Harry W. Rice Jr.*
2010
Mrs. Willa L. Johnson
2011
Mrs. Josephine C. Brown
2012
Mr. William E. West
2013
Mr. James B. Robinson
2014
Mrs. Fern Lima
2015
Mrs. Barbara Winters
2016
Mr. Robert Smith*
2017
Mrs. Joyce Dawson-Watts
2018
Mrs. Joanna T. Sommerville
2019
Ms. Ruth B. Thumbtzen
2020
Marvin L. Abney
2021
Dr. Michael N. Browner
2022
Mr. Kenneth A. Riley
2023
Ms. Cheryl A. Abney
2024
Mr. Charles Roberts
2025
Mr. Randy Butler
*deceased
Dr. Marcus Wheatland Award & Scholarship for Students
