Fourteen African-American community leaders received Trailblazer Awards from Mayor Alvin Brown.
It was the second year for the awards. The honorees were:
• Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II: First African-American Representative of the United States to the African Union and Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN Economic Commission of Africa from Jacksonville
• Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice: First African-American three-time Olympic medalist in track and field from Jacksonville
• Charles H. Cline: First African-American associate superintendent of Duval County Public Schools
• Barbara A. Darby: First African-American female campus president at Florida State College of Jacksonville - North Campus
• Preston Drummer: First African-American secretary-treasurer of Florida AFL-CIO from Jacksonville
• Harold Gibson: First African-American administrative aide to a Jacksonville Mayor
• Carla A. Harris: First African-American vice chair of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management from Jacksonville
• Dr. Kenneth W. Jones: Pioneered a groundbreaking kidney transplant procedure in the U.S.
• Reginald Luster: First African-American president of the Jacksonville Bar Association
• Willard Payne: First African-American McDonald’s franchise owner in Florida
• Ralph Smith: First African-American custodial services supervisor for the City of Jacksonville
• Tonyaa J. Weathersbee: First African-American editorial board member of the Florida Times-Union
• Dr. Floyd B. Willis: First African-American chief of Family Medicine at the Mayo Clinic
• Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick Sr.: Inaugural recipient of the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award