(Kansas
City, Mo. – June 29, 2013)— On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, the Kansas City Area
Transportation Authority (KCATA) presented the first annual KCATA Rosa Parks
SPIRIT Awards celebrating individuals and organizations who, in the spirit of
Civil Rights Leader Rosa Parks, are making a difference in Kansas City and in
public transit.
KCATA
honored four winners during an awards reception at the American Jazz Museum in
the historic 18th & Vine district. Winners include: Kansas City, Missouri City
Councilman Dick Davis, Truman Medical Centers, The University of
Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), and retired KCATA bus driver, Ray Harris, Jr.
“Over 50
years ago, Rosa Parks took a courageous stand on a public bus to make sure that
access would be available to all,” said KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer. “It
is in this spirit that we recognize the four honorees who embody the spirit of
public service while making our community a better place to live.”
Councilman
Dick Davis received the Rosa Parks SPIRIT Awards’ first Hall of Fame
Award. “Dick has given a lifetime of
service to public transportation and community service,” said Mark Huffer. “He
was not only the general manager of the Kansas City Area Transportation
Authority for 23 years, he was also recognized by APTA s the Outstanding Public
Transportation Manager in 2000. Prior to his public transportation career, he
was the first executive director of the region’s MPO, the Mid-America Regional
Council, the mayor of Gladstone, Mo., and now serves on the Kansas City
Council.
The Good
Neighbor Award went to Truman Medical Centers in recognition of the hospital’s
Healthy Harvest Mobile Market. The
Market is housed inside a converted KCATA bus and provides access to fresh
produce by transporting it to local neighborhoods that need it most. The retrofit was completed by KCATA’s own body shop, complete
with shelves, refrigeration and checkout counter. “We’re working to make the
easier choice the healthy choice,” said Jeannine Midgett, Truman Medical
Centers’ Director of Community Outreach.
The Rosa
Parks SPIRIT Awards’ Community Partner Award was presented to the University of
Missouri–Kansas City for its University Pass Program, which enables students to
ride The Metro at a discounted rate. “I can’t think of a better win-win
scenario than when our student affairs organization developed the U-Pass
program,” said UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton.
“Our students are now using U-Pass to get around town and move between
our campuses. This is helping us environmentally and it’s helping us keep our
students safe so I’m very happy that the bus stops here.”
Retired
KCATA bus operator Ray Harris, Jr. received the Heritage Award for leading the
way as one of five African-American bus operators to break the color barrier in
Kansas City. He later became an instructor and supervisor at KCATA. “His message should speak volumes to our young
people to recognize what people went through to bring about the change they
experience today,” said Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr. of Metropolitan
Missionary Baptist Church. Anita L.
Cobbins, Marketing Manager at KCATA, said, “To some operators, Ray is a mentor,
to others he is an icon. Either way, we
are honored to be on the receiving end of the legacy he has left us.”
Proud
supporters of the first annual KCATA Rosa Parks SPIRIT Awards include Gold
Sponsors: The City of Kansas City, Mo., and HNTB; Silver Sponsors: Alston &
Bird, LLP; CBIZ, Inc.; and Lathrop & Gage. LLP; and Bronze Sponsors: Dupree
Landscaping and Lawn Service; Littler Mendelson; Lockton Companies; Missouri
Gas Energy (MGE); McGladrey, LLP; Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates; SK
Design Group, Inc.; Taliaferro & Browne, Inc.; Thomas McGee Insurance; and
Zimmer Real Estate Services.