Atlanta Recognizes Louis Gossett Jr.

Atlanta, GA – So privileged to be a part of an event where Academy Award winning actor, Louis Gossett Jr., was honored by the City of Atlanta with the Phoenix Award, the City’s Civilian honor. The City’s mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, presented Gossett Jr., with the award in a ceremony at City Hall moderated by news personality Monica Kaufmann Pearson. Gossett Jr. played the role of Fiddler in Alex Haley’s “Roots” in 1977, and in 1982, he became the first African American to win an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor Category for his role in the film, “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Speakers at the ceremony, included three-time Olympic Medalist Ed Moses (1976, ’84 and ’88), who shared his memories of meeting Gossett for the first time in Los Angeles prior to the 1984 Olympic Games where Moses won gold in the 400-meter hurdles. A native of the City of Atlanta and graduate of Morehouse College, Moses recalled his enduring friendship over the years, and joined the City in welcoming its newest resident. The event was organized by the Atlanta City Council and Mr. Henry Woods, an LA area businessman/executive producer and longtime friend of Mr. Gossett Jr., has been involved in several economic, youth, sports and entertainment development projects in the Atlanta area. Gossett Jr., who recently sold his Los Angeles (Malibu) home, is in the process of moving to Atlanta, where he is will continue in his role as mentor in the rapidly growing sports and motion picture industry in Atlanta.