Chick-fil-A Chairman and CEO Dan T. Cathy, a member of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees, was named the Herman J. Russell CEO of the Year by the Atlanta Business League during their 39^th Annual Chief Executive Officer Appreciation Luncheon Program on May 16.

The award is the most prestigious recognition any CEO can receive from the Atlanta Business League.  It recognizes the true measure of a CEO’s success – commitment and fairness to people – while maximizing shareholder profits.

The award was presented to Cathy by Bill Taggart, the ABL’s chairman and the interim president at Morehouse College.

In a speech that garnered a standing ovation, Cathy passionately talked about the importance of saving and revitalizing Atlanta’s Westside area, that is anchored by the Atlanta University Center.

Also presenting an award during the luncheon – Taggart’s first as chair – was Milton Jones ’76, the co-chair of the Awards Luncheon and the founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners, LLC.  Little presented the Catalyst Award to Dana Lemon, a board member of the Georgia Department of Transportation.