1993    Arthur Ashe – Tennis great, educator, author and role model for youth

1994    Willie Mays – NY and SF Giants centerfield superstar, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

            Max Manning – Newark Eagles Negro League pitcher, educator & founding President of the John Henry “Pop” Lloyd Committee

1995    Jerry Izenberg – Syndicated sports columnist for the Newark Star Ledger and founder of Project Pride in Newark, NJ

            John Isaacs – “Boy Wonder,” Star forward for the 1939 World Champion NY Rens basketball team and Harlem youth activist

1996    Larry Doby – Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Newark Eagles Negro League second baseman and first African-American to break the color barrier in the American League with the Cleveland Indians

            Rachel Robinson & the Jackie Robinson Foundation – National organization that perpetuates the legacy of Jackie Robinson by providing scholarship to minority youths

            Larry James – Olympic Champion 4x400 Relay & Dean of Athletics at Richard Stockton College of NJ

1997    Sam Lacy – Legendary sports journalist and lifelong civil rights advocate

            Redenia Gilliam Mosee – Executive Vice President of Bally’s Park Place Casino and Atlantic City community sponsor

            Fay Vincent – Former Major League Baseball Commissioner and author

            Monte Irvin – Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Newark Eagles Negro League superstar and Negro League spokesman

1998    Jean Webster – “Sister Jean,” Founder of the Jean Webster Kitchen in Atlantic City

            Mayor James Whelan – Mayor of Atlantic City, Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and educator

            Rev. Floyd Flake – Former US Congressman, religious and community leader

1999    Congressman John Lewis – US Congressman and noted civil rights activist

            Arthur Dorrington – First black professional hockey player, Atlantic City Seagulls Hockey Player and founder of the Art Dorrington Hockey Foundation

            Leonard Coleman – Former president of the Major League Baseball National League

            Gordon Parks – Photographer, writer and filmmaker

2000    Mayor James Usry – NY Rens basketball player, first African-American mayor of Atlantic City and life-long educator 

            Joseph Lapchick – Member of the original Celtic basketball team, and incredibly successful professional and collegiate coach (awarded posthumously)

            Richard Lapchick – Human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality and noted expert on sports issues  

            David “Honeyboy” Edwards – Legendary Delta blues jazz musician

Robert Peterson – Historian and distinguished author of Only The Ball Was White

2001    Dionne Warwick – Grammy Award winning vocalist and international humanitarian

            Pattie Harris – Professional dancer, founder of the Pattie Harris Dance Theatre and Atlantic City community arts advocate

            Emilio Navarro – Cuban Stars Negro League Player, first Puerto Rican to play Negro League Baseball

            Dolores Benjamin & The NJ Philharmonic Glee Club – Our nation’s oldest performing African-American glee club and its founder

2002    Earl Woods – President and founder of the Tiger Woods Foundation

            Dr. Billy Taylor – Jazz pianist, composer, conductor, and educator

            John “Buck” O’Neil – Kansas City Monarchs Negro League player, Major League manager and Ambassador for the Negro Leagues

            The New York Mets – Major League Baseball organization that has historically recognized the contribution of Negro League Baseball to our National Pastime.

            Marvin Beatty – Atlantic City humanitarian, World War II Naval Officer, first African-American Deputy Chief of Atlantic City Fire Department

2003    The Atlantic City Arts Center – Atlantic City organization promoting diversity in the visual arts for 50 Years

            Dr. Charles & Mary Wilson – Distinguished physician, family, and community leaders

            The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum – Our nation’s institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the game and its impact on our culture

2004    Peter Westbrook – Olympian, and our Nation’s first African-Asian saber-fencing champion

            Calvin Hill – All-Pro running back for the NFL Dallas Cowboys

            Billy Mills – Olympic Champion, only American to win the 10,000 meter run

            Herb Douglas – Olympic Medalist, African-American pioneer in business and founder of the Global Peace Award recognizing athletes as humanitarians

            Joseph Brown – Outstanding educator responsible for creating the Viking Power Force Marching Band at Atlantic City High School