04/20/2026
Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. Receives Katie Hall Public Service Award (Posthumously)
On Saturday, April 25th, the Katie Hall Educational Foundation, Inc. will honor the late Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. with its highest Award, the Katie Hall Public Service Award. The Presentation to Rev. Jackson, Sr. (posthumously) will occur at the Foundation’s Annual Awards Luncheon.
Throughout his career, Rev. Jackson was involved in many of the struggles of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement, participating in the Selma to Montgomery (Alabama), alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists. A mentee of Dr. King, after the former’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Rev. Jackson would go on to establish himself not only as an outstanding civil rights activist, but also as a national politician when he sought the Presidency of the United States of America in both 1984 and 1988.
In the intervening years, Rev. Jackson, who gained a national profile organized Black Expo in Chicago, a trade and business show to promote African-American economic buying power and political power. He would go to establish People United To Save Humanity (PUSH) and later the Rainbow Coalition.
On November 2, 1983, Rev. Jackson was in attendance at The White House as U.S. Representative Katie Hall’s Bill- The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday legislation was signed into federal law by Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America. This law as authored and sponsored by U.S. Representative Hall of Indiana’s First Congressional district would establish the third Monday in January in which to honor the life and work of Dr. King.
As an international activist, Rev. Jackson traveled to Syria and Cuba to secure the release of Americans and others being held by foreign governments. He was also a strong advocate against racial apartheid, and often met with world leaders speaking out about injustices in South Africa.
Rev. Jackson’s entire life served as a blueprint for economic and racial equality for all of humanity.
In addition to Rev. Jackson, the other individuals to be honored for their outstanding contributions to public service at the Thirteenth Annual Katie Hall Public Service Award Luncheon are: local businessman and entrepreneur, Maceo M. Rainey, The Rainey Group, Inc.; Dr. James W. Wallace, Jr., author and Director of the Office of Student and Community Engagement Programming, Indiana University Northwest; and The Honorable Jacquelyn Y. Collins, Calumet Township Assessor. A Special Recognition Award will be presented to Mrs. Eunice Trotter, Director, Black Preservation Heritage Program, Indiana Landmarks of Indianapolis.
The Katie Hall Public Service Awards Luncheon will be held at the Robert L. Lowery Fellowship Hall on the beautiful grounds of St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 West 25th Avenue, Gary, Indiana. The VIP Reception begins at 12PM Noon and the Luncheon begins at 1:00PM. Admission is $100.00 per person.
