MLK Dream Keeper Award
Richard Dick Riley, 2010 MLK Dream Keeper Award Recipient
Congratulations to Mr. Richard W. Riley, 2010 MLK Dream Keeper Award Recipient
The Christian Science Monitor said that many Americans regard Dick Riley as “one of the great statesmen of education in this [20th] century,” and TIME Magazine has named him one of the “Ten Best Cabinet Officers” in our nation’s history. When Riley was Governor, he was so popular that the people amended the South Carolina Constitution to enable him to run for a second term.
Wherever he goes, Richard Wilson Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education and former Governor of South Carolina – wins respect for his integrity, principled leadership, commitment to children and passion for education.
After winning national recognition for his successful education improvements in South Carolina during the 1980s, Riley was chosen by President Clinton in December 1992 to serve in his Cabinet as the nation’s chief educator officer. Riley was successful that, after the the 1996 election, President Clinton asked him to continue leading his national crusade for excellence in education. During these two terms, Secretary Riley launched and sustained ground-breaking efforts for improving our nation’s education system as a whole.
Since leaving his national post in January 2001, Riley has rejoined the law firm of Nelson Mulins Riley & Scarborough ans is a Senior Partner in EducationCounsel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the law firm.
Dick Riley has been appointed Distinguished Professor and Trustee at his alma mater, Furman University, and serves as Advisory Board Chair of the Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership there. Additionally, Riley serves on the boards of South Carolina’s University Center in Greenville and Winthrop University, where the School of Education is named in his honor, as is the College of Education and Leadership at Walden University. He also has been named Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina. Riley speaks, provides leadership and serves in an advisory and collaborative capacity with many other entities to promote education improvement at all levels in the United States and abroad.
Dick Riley was born in Greenville County, South Carolina. He graudated cum laude from Furman University in 1954 and then served as an officer aboard a U.S. Navy minesweeper. In 1959, Riley received a law degree from the University of South Carolina. He served as a South Carolina state representative and state senator from 1963 to 1977, was elected Governor in 1978, and was reelected in 1982. Riley and his wife the late Ann Osteen Yarborough, have four children and 13 grandchildren.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Award Criteria
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
The MLK Dream Weekend Executive Board will award the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper Award to one individual in recognition of his commitment and service to, and betterment of, the Greenville community.
Selection Criteria
- A male that is active in the community
- Exemplifies the principles that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. supported, including, but not limited to:
- Providing service and/or advocating for disadvantaged and less fortunate individuals
- Investing time and energy in the community’s youth
- Promoting social justice
- Willingness to work behind the scenes for societal betterment without formal recognition or credit
- Implementing new and creative ways to impact the community
- Dedication to non-violence and peacefulness