ALIHOT
A Legend In His/Her Own Time
In 1996, the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, created a special award to be given to men and women for excellence in literature, journalism, music, art, and community service, or philanthropy. The award is given to men and women who qualify as legends in their own time.
Rosemary James, Co-Founder of the Faulkner Society, took the name from one of her former journalistic colleagues, the late Jack Dempsey, a legendary police reporter for the old New Orleans afternoon newspaper, The States-Item. Dempsey sent his police report columns from police headquarters by teletype. He always signed his dispatches:
ALIHOT
A Legend In His Own Time.
The awards are given annually in memory of Jack Dempsey, other memorable guys and dolls of reporting, and the great 20th Century heyday of journalism. There is no specified number of awardees each year, although at least one award for Literature always is given.
The first ALIHOT Award for Literature was presented to Mississippi author Eudora Welty for her impressive body of fiction and non-fiction. That same year, ALIHOT Awards were presented to Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin for Philanthropy in the Arts and
to artist Wade Welch for cartoon satire. Other awards have been made as follows:
2018
- W. Kenneth Holditch, Literature
- Joyce Blaylock, Literary Service
- Anne Simms Pincus, Literary Service
2017
- Patty Friedmann, Fiction
- Tim Gautreaux, Fiction
- Adam Johnson, Fiction
- Stewart O’Nan, Fiction
- Reza Aslan, Non-Fiction
- Walter Isaacson, Non-Fiction
2016
- Yuri Herrera, Fiction
- Nancy Isenberg, History
- Christina Vella, Biography
2015
- Bret Lott, Literature
- Elise Blackwell, Fiction
- Bill Loehfelm, Fiction
- John Pope, Essay
- Sybil Morial, Memoir
2014
- Moira Crone, Fiction
- Darrell Bourque, Poetry
- Luis Alberto Urrea, Literature
- Stanley Crouch, Music Criticism
- Randy Fertel, Philanthropy
2013
- Horatio Castellanos Moya, Literature
- Rodger Kamenetz, Literature
- Ron Rash, Literature
2012
2011
- Armando Valladares, Human Rights Advocacy
- Oscar Hijuelos, Literature
- Justin Torres, First Fiction
- Nilo Cruz, Drama
- Randy Fertel, Narrative Non-Fiction
2010
- Tim O’Brien, Literature
- Rebecca Wells, Literature
- Arthur Q. Davis, FAIA, Civic Service
- Quinn Peeper, Music, Civic Service
2009
- John Biguenet, Literature
- Ron Pincus, Civic Service
2008
- Roy Blount, Jr., Literature: Non-Fiction
- Michael Malone: Literature: Fiction
- Ted Turner, Environmental Philanthropy
2007
- Matthew Bruccoli, Biography
- Marie Arana, Michael Dirda, Jonathan Yardley, Literary Criticism
- Josephine Sacabo, Art Photography
- Nancy Moss, Contributions to the Arts
2006
- Shirley Ann Grau, Literature
- Michael White, Music
- John Besh, Culinary Arts
- Thomas Neff, Art Photography
- Bertie Deming Smith, Philanthropy
2005
- Katrina, no awards presented
2004
- Robert Olen Butler, Literature
- Stanley Crouch & Irvin Mayfield, Words & Music: The Wild Palms Suite
- Dow Mossman, Mark Moskowitz, Documentary Cinema
- Gérard Lange, Art Photography
- H. Paul St. Martin, Michael X. St. Martin, Philanthropy
2003
- Valerie Martin, Literature
- Herman Leonard, Raymond Meeks, Art Photography
- Ellis Marsalis, Music: Jazz
- William Farlowe, Philanthropy
2002
- Elizabeth Spencer, Literature
- C.D. Wright, Poetry
- Deborah Luster: Art Photography
- Earl King, Music: Blues
- Leah Chase, Culinary Arts, Civic Service
2001
- Dalt Wonk, Drama
- Susan Spicer, Culinary Arts
- Dan Ragland, Photographic Art
- Freda Lupin, Contributions to the Arts
2000
- Rodger Kamenetz, Literature
- Arthur Samuelson, Literary Publishing
Paul Prudhomme, Culinary Arts - Julie Grant Meyer, Philanthropy
1999
- Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Poetry
- Iris Kelso, Don Lee Keith, Journalism
- Thomas C. Keller, Philanthropy
1998
- Fredrick Barton & Jay Weigel, Words & Music, A House Divided
- Lolita Davidovich, Ron Shelton, Performance Art
- Sandra Russell Clark, Art Photography
- Dorothy Crosby & Lynn Crosby Gammill, Philanthropy
1997
- Shelby Foote, Literature
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Poetry
- Delta Burke & Gerald McRaney, Performance Art
- Odetta, Music
- Lyle Bonge, Art Photography
- Ian Arnoff, Eamon Kelly, Philanthropy
For more information about ALIHOT winners, read the latest Double Dealers!