John Robert Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (D-Ga) since 1986, holding seats on powerful Ways and Means Committee and Select Committee on Aging: long a courageous voice for nonviolent progress in civil rights and racial harmony as well as a protector of Medicare benefits for the elderly: a major leader of the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s.

Leonard Coleman, President of Major League Baseball’s National League since 1994; formerly State of New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs as well as holder of other high-level state posts related to energy, economic development, housing, ethical standards and public television; earlier president of Greater Newark Urban Coalition and missionary in Africa for Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.

Gordon Alexander Parks, noted photographer, writer, filmmaker, composer and painter whose major achievements include 20+ years as photojournalist for Life magazine; author of several books including The Learning Tree; first black director of a major motion picture (screen adaptation of The Learning Tree) director of hugely successful Shaft movies and film biography of blues composer Huddie Leadbelly.

Arthur Dorrington, first black professional hockey player in U.S.; native of Nova Scotia signed with New York Rangers for one of team’s farm clubs in 1950 but chose instead to play for Atlantic City Seagulls of Easter League, leading them to league championship in 1951; after U.S. Army service and career-ending injury, built second career as officer in Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department.

Messrs. Lewis, Parks and Dorrington will be in attendance at the Lloyd Humanitarian Awards and Lecture here on August 21. Mr. Coleman will help unveil a Negro League commemorative bronze sculpture at Atlantic City’s Sandcastle Stadium on the evening of August 20.

Past recipients of the Lloyd Humanitarian Award include tennis great Arthur Ashe (posthumously); Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Larry Doby and Monte Irvin; Rachel Robinson and The Jackie Robinson Foundation; Newark Eagles pitching star Max Manning; noted Star-Ledger columnist Jerry Izenberg; basketball star John Isaacs; Olympic runner Larry James; celebrated journalist Sam Lacy; former Commissioner of Baseball Fay Vincent; Bally’s executive Redenia Gilliam-Mosee; Atlantic City Mayor James Whelan; former U.S. Representative and noted churchman Floyd Flake; and champion of the hungry and homeless, Jean Webster.

The John Henry “Pop” Lloyd Committee, organized initially to restore the Atlantic City ballfield dedicated to the hall of Fame shortstop, now presents the annual Humanitarian Awards and Lecture in his honor. This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Pop Lloyd Stadium, the Committee has scheduled a four-day series of events including:

August 19: Start of four-day Second Annual Negro Leagues Conference of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

August 20: “Turn Back the Clock” night at Sandcastle Stadium featuring Negro League veterans and the unveiling of commemorative bronze mural by Jennifer Frudakis.

August 21: Seventh Annual Humanitarian Awards, Lecture and Dinner at the Convention Center.

August 22: Festivities at Pop Lloyd Stadium including celebrity softball game

Related events in August in Atlantic City: Latin Americans in the Negro Leagues, an exhibit at the Atlantic City Free Public Library; Pop Lloyd Stadium and the Negro League Legends, an art exhibit at Garden Pier featuring the works of nationally recognized artist Richard Merkin, John Wolfe, Earl Lewis and Tina Hoggatt.

For more information on any Pop Lloyd 50th Anniversary events, contact Michael Everett at 609-927-1597.