Lowery to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

By MEGAN MATTEUCCI and ERNIE SUGGS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Joseph Lowery, said in his life as a pastor and civil rights leader, he was content just doing the work. Regardless of whether or not anyone noticed.

President Barack Obama noticed.

On Thursday, the White House announced that Lowery will receive the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award.

“This says that even when you are not aware of it, somebody is always aware of what you are trying to do,” Lowery said.

Lowery was one of 16 people chosen by Obama to receive the medal this year. The medals will be presented Aug. 12 at the White House, Lowery said.

Traveling back to Atlanta from a trip to Florida, Lowery said he got a call from the White House several weeks ago, informing him of his selection.

“They asked me not to spread the news until they made the announcement,” Lowery said, admitting that he did tell his wife. “It was totally unexpected and I am especially honored and humbled. Anytime you are a recognized with the highest award your nation can bestow, you have to feel good about it.”

Lowery, a longtime United Methodist minister, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957, and served as the group’s president from 1977 until 1997.

Lowery, who gave the benediction at Obama’s inauguration, has been an ally of the President since meeting him in March 2007. The two men first met in Selma at the 42nd anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march.

Lowery, 87 later endorsed Obama, served as an adviser and campaigned for him in Iowa, Mississippi and Alabama.

Aside from Lowery, Obama’s first class of medal winners are:

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, breast cancer activist Nancy Goodman Brinker, homeless healthcare advocate Dr. Pedro Jose Greer Jr., physicist Stephen Hawking, the late U.S. Congressman Jack Kemp, tennis player Billie Jean King, Plains Indian Chief Joe Medicine Crow, the late gay rights leader Harvey Milk, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, actor Sidney Poitier, actress Chita Rivera, former Ireland President Mary Robinson, human geneticist Dr. Janet Davison Rowley and economist Muhammad Yunus.

“Coming from the first African-American president and to be included in his first class, with these outstanding personalities and leaders is very special,” Lowery said.

The medal is awarded to recognize a “meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the Unites States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” President Harry Truman created the Medal of Freedom in 1945 to honor civilians in World War II. Past recipients with Atlanta ties include King, former President Jimmy Carter and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young.

The medals will be presented Aug. 12.

Other recipients will include: U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, breast cancer activist Nancy Goodman Brinker, homeless healthcare advocate Dr. Pedro Jose Greer Jr., physicist Stephen Hawking, the late U.S. Congressman Jack Kemp, tennis player Billie Jean King, Plains Indian Chief Joe Medicine Crow, the late gay rights leader Harvey Milk, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, actor Sidney Poitier, actress Chita Rivera, former Ireland President Mary Robinson, human geneticist Dr. Janet Davison Rowley and economist Muhammad Yunus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.