Ralph B. Atkinson Award Winners

The Atkinson Award is named for the distinguished civil rights advocate Ralph B. Atkinson. The award is presented each year by the Monterey County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to a local advocate for civil liberties.

2007 -- Evelyn Caracheo Gracia
2006 -- Fernando Armenta and Jerry Smith (1945-2007)
2005 -- Ewalker James
2004 -- The Citizenship Project
2003 -- Congressman Sam Farr
2002 -- Judge Richard Silver
2001 -- Sergio Sanchez
2000 -- Joyce Vandevere
1999 -- (Ed Leeper--declined)
1998 -- Mel Mason
1997 -- Jerry Cohen
1996 -- Sam Karas (1922-2003)
1995 -- Hugh Taylor
1994 -- Lorita Fisher
1993 -- Helen Rucker
1992 -- William W. Monning
1991 -- William A. Meléndez
1990 -- Ruthie Watts
1989 -- Rev. Alan Syslo
1988 -- Edith Alt
1987 -- Dr. Ben Heller
1986 -- Lydia M. Villarreal
1985 -- Dr. Charles Clements
1984 -- Rosemary Matson
1983 -- Hon. Leon Panetta
1982 -- Dr. Russell Williams
1981 -- Ava Helen Pauling (1903-1981)
1980 -- Rev. Howard G. Matson (1903-1997)
1979 -- Milton Mayer (1908-1986)
1978 -- Justice Phil S. Gibson
1977 -- Francis Heisler (1895-1984)