2006 Thomas C. Wales Award Dinner


The fifth annual "Night Among Heroes" was held Saturday, November 18, 2006 at the Seattle Sheraton.

The featured speaker was Seattle attorney Egil "Bud" Krogh, who served as Deputy Counsel in the Nixon Whitehouse. Bud drew on his inside perspective of the successes and excesses of that experience to talk about the vital importance of integrity in public policy. Margo Myers from KIRO 7 Television served as Master of Ceremonies, and closing remarks were given by Kikora Dorsey, 2002 recipient of the Wales Foundation's Award for Passionate Citizenship.

The 2006 recipient of the Thomas C. Wales Award for Passionate Citizenship was Roberto Maestas. Roberto is a uniquely effective advocate for social justice. For over 35 years he has worked to strengthen the Latino community in Seattle, and more broadly he has fought to advance the rights of all who are poor or denied the benefits of a just society. He has led efforts to defend Native American fishing rights, to create African American construction trade jobs, to defend the geographical integrity and character of Chinatown, and to secure fair wages for nurses and farm workers. He helped bring bi-lingual services into the schools. He has followed his own path, which has included picket lines and audacious protests, all propelled by his unique combination of burning energy and good natured fellowship. El Centro de la Raza, which he led for many years, offers employment assistance, housing programs, youth, citizenship, community organizing programs, as well as a host of other vital services for the community.

Four other Puget Sound community leaders received recognition from the Foundation as 2006 honorees: Grover Haynes, Lonnie Lusardo, Min Duc Nguyen, and Dr. Thomas A. Preston.

Link to Bud Krogh's book, Integrity available on Amazon.com.

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