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Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. received the MLK55 Stone Award from Stanley Campbell, a man known as the Memphis Foot Man last week.

The award and proclamation were presented to Perkins for his accomplishments during a historic three terms as mayor.

The proclamation has the signature and Congressional Seal of Steve Cohen, 9th Congressional District of Tennessee. Cohen said he applauds Perkins, the first African American mayor in Selma’s history.

The award cites Perkins as a “powerful, passionate, persistent, and practical man who cares about people, a no no-nonsense guy who is about solving problems.”

Perkins thanked his wife, First Lady Cynthia Perkins, the Selma City Council, city employers and members at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as Pastor.

“I thank my wife Cynthia for sticking by me, I thank the City of Selma employees,” Perkins said. “I thank the church members at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, I thank the city council, I thank God.”

Campbell said the award was inspired by April 4, 1968, when Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

“I want to build one step, one leader and one state at a time,” Campbell said.

Perkins and Selma City Councilman Michael Johnson will both receive awards for community activism at the 28th Annual Stone EBEN Awards Gala in Memphis on October 14.

Johnson said he’s grateful for the honor.