1978 - Mrs. Deborah Sage Rockefeller of Morrilton/Petit Jean Mountain

1979 - Mr. Kaneaster Hodge of Newport

1980 - Miss Annie Mae Bankhead of Little Rock

1981 - Mrs. Willie Oates of Little Rock

1982 - Miss Lilly Peters of Marvell

1983 - Mr. B. Finley Vinson of Little Rock

1984 - Rev. Hezekiah David Stewart of College Station

1985 - Mr. Jackson T. Stephens of Little Rock

1986 - Mr. Parker Westbrook of Nashville/Old Washington

1987 - Mrs. Betty Bumpers of Charleston/Washington D.C.

1988 - Mr. Sidney Moncrief of Sherwood/Dallas

1989 - Dr. Hampton F. Roy of Little Rock

1990 - Mrs. Daisy Bates of Little Rock

1991 - Dr. James Suen of Little Rock

1992 - Mr. Herschel Friday of Little Rock

1993 - Father George Tribou of Little Rock

1994 - Mr. Mike Flynn of Little Rock

1995 - Mr. John Steuri of Little Rock

1996 - Dr. Terry Yamauchi of Little Rock

1997 - Mr. Keith Jackson of Little Rock

1998 - Ms. Patti Upton of Heber Springs

1999 - Senator David Pryor, Retired of North Little Rock

2000 - Mr. Frank Broyles of Fayetteville

2001 - Senator Dale Bumpers of

2002 - Mrs. Billie Ann Meyers of Jacksonville

2003 - Mr. Corliss Williamson of Detroit, Michigan

2004 - Mr. Bob Robbins of Sheridan

2005 - The Jennings Osborne Family of Little Rock

2006 - Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor of North Little Rock

2007 - The Late Bill Clark & Margaret Clark, Little Rock

2008 - Bud Whetstone of Little Rock