ATLANTA — The highlight for this reporter each year when attending the NABJ Convention is the annual Sam Lacy Pioneer Awards.
The NABJ Sports Task Force (STF) renamed its Pioneer Award after the late legendary Sam Lacy in 2003. Each year the Black sports media group selects and honors several individuals from the convention host city for what they’ve done in and out of sports. Its greatness personified, a pleasure to hear their stories and speak with them afterwards.
This year it was The ATL, the second largest Black metropolitan population in the United States.
Last Friday’s two-hour dinner event in a room packed with Black journalists for the nine 2026 Lacy winners: two WNBA legends Renee Montgomery and Angel McCoughtry, an Olympic track legend, a PGA TOUR executive, two Black journalists, an award-winning filmmaker, a Sports Task Force founder and the widow of one of the greatest baseball players in history. Even former U.S. ambassador, congressman and Atlanta mayor Andrew Young was in attendance as well.
Ron Thomas was STF’s first chair, but he told MSR that being honored last Friday might have topped his lengthy list of accomplishments, including the founding director of Morehouse’s first journalism program from 2007 until his recent retirement.
“If I had to compare it, I’d say this is more important because it was more impactful because I actually can see the impact it’s having on human beings,” reaffirmed Thomas to MSR. “I didn’t plan to be a teacher. I’m only a teacher because everybody got laid off, including me as a journalist, and they started a program at Morehouse that was perfect for me because of its emphasis on sports.”
Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, a Morehouse graduate, stood alongside Thomas as both were honored. He and the late ESPN columnist Ralph Wiley, Thomas’ longtime friend, originally conceived the Morehouse program and helped raise funds for it. Lee told the audience that Black journalists are needed more than ever.
Roi and Sharon McCoughtry sat and heard their daughter Angel McCoughtry’s video acceptance speech: “I didn’t know that basketball would open so many doors not only for myself but for others,” she said.
McCoughtry was the top overall pick by Atlanta in 2009, and she played 13 seasons, winning 2009 Rookie of the Year, five All-Star selections, two scoring titles, seven All-WNBA honors, six All-Defensive selections and three Finals appearances. Now, McCoughtry runs her own entertainment company, hosts youth basketball camps both domestically and in Ghana, championing mental health, education and women’s empowerment.
Her dad told us, “There was a brother who lived in Louisville, Ky. who was a friend of mine. He said, ‘Roi, your daughter has to have life after basketball. She’s done great in basketball but what about after basketball.’ Look at her now, she’s producing movies, broadcasting. She’s on NBA TV, and a lot of doors are opening up for her. She’s done music and she’s done acting, and she graduated from the University of Louisville. I’m a proud dad.”
“Being in Atlanta is the perfect place,” said Montgomery in her acceptance video. After her 11-season WNBA career, a two-time champion with Minnesota, Montgomery became the first former W player to both co-own a team, the Atlanta Dream, and also team vice-president. She also is the first female owner in Fan Controlled Football, and a partner in the Chanel Beauty’s CC League, a global initiative empowering elite female athletes to explore identity, beauty and self-expression beyond sport.
“Being recognized as a pioneer in this game, getting an award I do not need but appreciate,” she surmised.
The late Hank Aaron played 21 MLB seasons, won a World Series and became the all-time home run hitter. But his greatest accomplishments perhaps came away from the baseball diamond, his wife Billye told MSR.
“He was the greatest man. He was a remarkable person,” said Mrs. Aaron. “He had such passion for helping and educating our youth. We started the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation (in 1995), and we have a number of students around here these days who have benefitted from Henry’s mercy and concern. Not just Black kids but also all kids. I’m so very proud of him.”
Dr. Edwin Moses is a lifelong advocate for integrity in sport, athlete empowerment and global social impact. The Morehouse grad has degrees in physics and engineering and is enshrined in two track and field halls of fame.
“I am really honored,” said Moses. The Dayton, Ohio native remembers at Morehouse: “I was a total nerd,” he joked. But he later would become legendary in track when he set an American record in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1976, then later that year won gold at the Montreal Olympics. Moses went on to win 122 consecutive races, including 107 straight finals from 1977 to 1987.
Other Lacy winners include PGA TOUR Superstore Vice-President for Social Impact, Partnerships and Community Relations Ralph Stokes, a member of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant’s first integrated class; Journalist of the Year D. Orlando Ledbetter and Terence Moore, the 2026 NABJ Sports Task Force Lifetime Achievement winner.
Greatness personified. Co-Host Ray Richardson best summed it up.
“To see Mrs. Aaron get here to represent Hank, that was touching for me because I have never seen her before but I know her story and her legacy. Of course, we all know Hank’s legacy but the fact that she came here with a lot of family members. They had three tables here. And to see Ambassador Young here, the first time I saw him in person today, that was a moment for me.
“We’re looking at history,” stressed Richardson, “right in our eyes, right in front of us. Her, Ambassador Young and then Edwin Moses. I just realized tonight that it has been 50 years that he won his first gold medal in ’76. I remember watching him on TV in Montreal. Those things stand out for me.
“We’ve had some really nice Pioneer Awards,” he concluded. “Every year we seem to top the previous one. This one here is going to resonate for a while because of who was here.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesma-recorder.com.
Copyright © 2026 Charles Hallman