The annual Advocate Award is sponsored by the East Dallas/Lakewood Advocate, in conjunction with the Greater East Dallas and Lakewood chambers of commerce. This year’s winner, Dorothy Savage, was selected from among nominations submitted by neighborhood residents.

Savage will be recognized at the April 14 Lakewood Chamber meeting and the April 28 Greater East Dallas Chamber meeting. Both meetings are open to the public; call the chambers (Lakewood: 827-8921; Greater East Dallas: 321-6446) for information.

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Nominations were solicited for activists who have worked to improve our neighborhoods, primarily on a volunteer basis. Nominees did not have to live in East Dallas or Lakewood, but nominators were required to demonstrate the nominee’s devotion and accomplishment in East Dallas above and beyond the normal call of duty.

Panelists included Elizabeth Zaby and Bill Cook of the Greater East Dallas Chamber, Eloise Sherman and Susie Cox of the Lakewood Chamber, and Jeff Siegel, Ken Turetzky and Rick Wamre with the Advocate. (Employees of the chambers and the Advocate were not eligible for the Advocate Award.)

The award celebrates both neighborhood activism and the first anniversary of the Advocate, which has grown to a monthly distribution of more than 21,000 households in East Dallas, Lakewood and Forest Hills during the past year. Nearly 17,000 households receive home delivery of the Advocate each month, while others can pick up the newspaper at more than 50 area retailers.

Finalists for the Advocate Award, along with a brief excerpt from their nomination form, include:

GLENN E. BOX, attorney and Dallas City Councilman: “Even though Glenn serves the citizens of this area as their Councilman, I believe he would serve his community to the best of his ability even if he wasn’t an elected official. He continuously strives to bring economic development to our City’s neighborhoods, and he is aware that the safety of our citizens and their quality of life is of utmost concern. Glenn holds to his spiritual beliefs and the importance of the family in today’s society.”

RON BURCH, an associate with Whiteside Realtors: He is active in the Lakewood Kiwanis Club, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, advisory committees of Robert E. Lee Elementary and Woodrow Wilson High School, as church deacon in charge of the Youth Committee, and as a member of the Dallas Business Coalition for Education.

ANNE GOOD, volunteer with the Lakewood Library Friends and Clean Dallas East: “She exemplifies the ‘can do’ spirit for which the East Dallas community is well-known. She spearheaded the 1991 campaign to inform the residents of East Dallas about proposed library cuts as editor of the Friends newsletter. She continues to demonstrate that spirit with her continued involvement and hours of tireless effort with Clean Dallas East.”

MICHAUX NASH JR., chairman of EastPark National Bank and active with the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Society, Children’s Medical Center, Friends of Fair Park and the Dallas Commission on International Cultural Affairs: “In this terrible banking atmosphere, he still has time for his community locally, statewide and nationally, and he still runs a profitable independent community bank.”

PAMELA A. STEPHENSON, president of the Vickery Place Neighborhood Association and member of the Dallas Homeowners League, Central YWCA and East Dallas Crime Coalition: “Pam’s overall enthusiasm, excitement and commitment to East Dallas energized and inspired those around her to make 1991 a year of real growth and change. In our Vickery Place neighborhood, we saw a tremendous increase in neighborhood participation, with numerous programs offered in English and Spanish. Pam has worked tirelessly to inform, educate and highlight East Dallas, but always keeping in mind the importance of crime awareness and prevention.”

VIRGINIA “GIGI” WOODRUFF, executive director of the East Dallas YMCA: “Gigi faced stiff adversity from the press, parents and the general public as a result of the attention that she and the East Dallas YMCA received during 1991 when a former YMCA employee pleaded guilty to child molestation charges. Many in her position would have ‘thrown in the towel’, but through her personal strength and determination, both she and the YMCA have become even stronger.”