Four community leaders are being honored with African American Congressional History awards.
Frank Hayes, Phyllis Hicks, Mary J. Goodwin-Clinkscale and Herbert C. Rhodes were recognized by U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, whose office has been presenting the awards for three years.
Preston Love Jr. emceed the presentation at a Wednesday meeting of the Hungry Club on the Turning Point Campus, 3223 N. 45th St. Love was also a member of the board that helped choose the honorees.
Goodwin-Clinkscale, administrator of the Greater Beth-el Temple and executive producer/director of Growing and Building Together Academy of the Arts, said she was speechless after receiving the award.
“With the caliber of individuals that I won with, I am just overwhelmed,” Goodwin-Clinkscale said. “I’m so elated.
“The one thing that really means a lot to me is that my efforts have not gone unnoticed.”
Hayes, an Omaha business owner, was a founding member and first president of 100 Black Men of Omaha, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth. He has also conducted workshops in North Omaha to help minorities start their own businesses. He was not present Wednesday.
Rhodes, a longtime member of the Omaha business community who was highlighted in a 1975 issue of Ebony magazine as an African American business leader, called the award a significant honor.
Hicks, co-founder of the Salem Stepping Drill Team and marketing director of the Omaha Star newspaper, belongs to organizations that include NAACP, Black Women’s Council, Urban League and others.
She said she was humbled by the recognition, and she offered encouragement for other people to get involved.
“The youth are our future, and the more people spend time and work with the youth, the better our community can become,” she said.
Former winner Rudy Smith, a member of this year’s selection committee, called the recipients “outstanding.”
The awards are designed to showcase the accomplishments of the honorees, Smith said.
“It’s trying to show their contributions that they’ve made over the years and continue to make in the community, which is vitally important, hoping that other people will step up to the plate and continue to do what they’ve done as an example.”
Terry will read the accolades into the Congressional Record next week.
“We’re proud to showcase Nebraska to the rest of the nation,” said Karen Davis, the congressman’s outreach director.
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