Tift County Commissioner Donnie Hester will be honored next month at the 24th Annual Leadership and Courage Achievement Awards dinner sponsored by Harry Ross’ Ross Report news organization.

Hester will be recognized for his outstanding leadership along with 18 other individuals from Georgia and Alabama. Past honorees have included Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Martin Luther King III, former mayor Maynard Jackson, Cathy Cox, Sheriff Thomas Brown and the Honorable Joe L. Scott.

The theme of this year’s awards dinner, which will be held June 8 at the Clarion Atlanta Airport Hotel in College Park, will be “Bridging the Gap: Changing a Generation.”

Ross said of Hester, “I personally made the recommendation to my advisory board because of what I discovered and learned of the leadership of the Honorable Donnie Hester. Mr. Hester’s commitment as a peace-maker and 21st century visionary leader in the state of Georgia, deserves to be recognized outside his community.”

Hester said he was away last week at a conference when he got a phone message telling him about the award.

“I’m blessed,” Hester said. He said he would be going to the awards dinner and hopes to take family, friends and some of the other commissioners.

“This is my 10th year as a commissioner,” Hester said. “I am glad I have been able to serve. I am a voice for District 1, but I serve all of the residents of Tift County.”

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.