Rhett Jackson and Steve Morrison

Wednesday at half– past noon Seawell’s was swamped with well– wishers and long–time members for the annual awards ceremony of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council. Preston Winkler, executive director, directed the affair, and the place was packed. The featured speaker was Dr. Andrew Sorensen, president of USC.

To quote the Seawell’s lunch handout: “Once a year, the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, the premier community relations organization in Greater Columbia and Richland County, awards the prestigious Distinguished Service Award for an individual who, by a lifetime of dedicated service to his or her community, best exemplifies the letter and spirit of the Council’s mission. To be recognized by this award, the honoree lives up to the highest standards set by the Council in its incorporating documents and its forty years of leadership in the field of improving racial, ethnic and community relations.”

Sam Tenenbaum This year’s award went to Stephen G. Morrison, attorney with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. The accomplishments cited by his friend Rhett Jackson were many. His work on behalf of the school children of SC and his handling of the law suit Abbeville vs. State of South Carolina are what took major attention among the Wednesday lunch crowd.

Luther Battiste As illustrated in the documentary Corridor of Shame , there is a dire need for Morrison’s pro bono legal pursuits to include equity funding for all the state’s school children.

Jimmy Derrick Fire Chief Bradley Anderson Dr. Wendell Estep