Back (l to r): Daniel Crisler and daughter, P.J. Meitl, Sam Merten, Adam McGough, Dr. Richard Anderson, Bill Boyd, Jason Simon, Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano. Front (l to r): James White, Joli Robinson, April Wallace, Barbara Raygoza, Cooper McGough, Michelle Anderson, Noah McGough, Eli McGough, Lacy McGough, Quincy Bradley and son, Jeri Baker

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam McGough surprised several recipients last week with his 2019 Blake Anderson Public Service Awards, presented in memory of the young man who worked on McGough’s staff while earning his MBA. Though he lived with Type I Diabetes, Anderson was a marathon runner and active outdoorsman. He died while mountain biking at President George W. Bush’s ranch outside Crawford, Texas.

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“This year has been really special because so many people remember Blake,” said McGough. “Being an upstander was really important to Blake – he lived it out his entire life. These recipients have been Dallas upstanders over the last year.”

Anderson’s parents were on hand for presentation of the awards, made from vintage bicycle spokes designed to recall the pastime Anderson loved.

Recipients included Sam Merten, Dallas Citizen Homelessness Commission member and former communications officer for Mayor Mike Rawlings; Bill Boyd, 2019 Exchange Club Member of the Year and LBJ Now organizer; April Wallace, Hamilton Park native and Exodus Ministries volunteer; Barbara Raygoza, Lake Highlands High 2019 grad and Mayor’s Rising Star Council standout; Quincy “Que-P” Bradley, Dallas Police Community Advisory Board member and hip hop recording artist; Daniel Crisler, CrossFit owner teaching fitness to schoolchildren in underserved areas; Joli Robinson, DPD Community Affairs manager and Mayor’s Rising Star Council organizer; Jeri Baker, District 10 Senior Affairs Commissioner and National Night Out volunteer; James White, District 10 Arts and Culture Commissioner voted “Best Loser” by Dallas Observer for continuing his community activism after losing his city council race to McGough; Jason Simon, Government Affairs Director at the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas and advocate for the Forest/Audelia Boxing Gym; P.J. Meitl, U.S. Attorney and head of Project Safe Neighborhood.

A few other recipients will receive their awards in the coming days. Congratulations, all.