Michael Wilbon, Maureen Bunyan Honored with Jackie Robinson Awards at GW

News anchor Maureen Bunyan receives a Jackie Robinson Community Award from Richard Zamoff, adjunct associate professor of sociology and faculty adviser to the Jackie Robinson Society.

Local legends The Washington Post
columnist Michael Wilbon, WJLA-TV news anchor Maureen Bunyan, and civil rights activist Franklin Kameny, as well as GW student and baseball player Gavin Swanson, were honored for their
contributions to society and the GW
community at the third annual Jackie
Robinson Awards ceremony. Andre
Collins, former Redskins player and
director of retired players for the National Football League Players Association, was the featured autograph guest and signed copies of his children’s book What Teammates Do as well as photos and sportscards. Held April 16 in GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium, the event concluded with a sports memorabilia display and reception.

Founded in 1999, the Jackie Robinson Society sponsors discussions, lectures and events centering on the life and legacy of the baseball legend. The University established the Jackie Robinson awards in 2007 in honor of Robinson and his historic integration into Major League Baseball more than 60 years ago.

At the ceremony, Richard Zamoff, adjunct associate professor of sociology and faculty adviser to the Jackie Robinson Society, spoke about the challenges Robinson faced to become the first African American baseball player in the major leagues since the
segregation of baseball in 1889. “I would suggest that Jackie Robinson gave baseball its conscience,” said Dr. Zamoff. “His accomplishments are still the single greatest example of how sports can effect change… Robinson was, in every respect, a civil rights hero.”

Dr. Zamoff then awarded Bunyan, Wilbon and Kameny with the 2009 Jackie Robinson Community Recognition Awards, and Swanson with the 2009 Jackie Robinson Award.

Bunyan said she was “humbled” by the honor and told the audience that everyone could be as courageous as Robinson. “Courage, as I define it, is the ability to face fear, not to ignore it or overcome it,” said Bunyan. “Mr. Robinson did this in ways we cannot
even imagine. Whether out on the field, in a classroom or on the job, you all have that courage. You have to define it for yourself, face it and then continue on ahead.”

Wilbon accepted his award via video and expressed his gratitude to the society for continually remembering Robinson’s accomplish ments. “To receive any recognition associated with Jackie Robinson is an honor,” said Wilbon. “Thank you to everyone
involved with the Jackie Robinson Society, which existed long before honoring Robinson became fashionable.”

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