Since 1987, the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has presented the James Madison Award to journalists, elected officials, academics, attorneys and vigilant citizens for outstanding achievements and distinction in open government and First Amendment rights in Texas. Award winners are recognized at the FOI Foundation’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference. Make a nomination to submit via email to [email protected].

James Madison Award Winners
2023
Bill Girdner, editor of Courthouse News Service

2022
Ross Ramsey, veteran Texas journalist, recently retired from Texas Tribune

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Open government is not the sexiest set of issues, but it’s among the most important,” journalist Ross Ramsey said as he received the James Madison Award in 2022 for his commitment to transparency. “Without these laws, there is so much that we wouldn’t know – or wouldn’t know until well after we had an opportunity to do something about it.”

2021
Patrick Canty, publisher of the Odessa American

2020
Karen Blumenthal, journalist and author (posthumous)

2019
Katy Aldredge and Kelsey Erickson, aides to state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Sen. Kirk Watson, respectively

2018
Laura Lee Prather, First Amendment attorney

2017
Jim Moroney, publisher of the Dallas Morning News

2016
Wanda Garner Cash, veteran Texas newswoman and educator

2015
Don Adams, former state senator who helped write and pass initial open records laws in Texas in the early 1970s

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas conference in Austin, Texas on Sept. 17, 2015.

Former Sen. Don Adams, accepting the James Madison Award at the FOI Foundation of Texas conference in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 17, 2015. (Photo by Jack Plunkett.)

Other Past Award Winners

2014
Donnis Baggett, Executive Vice President, Texas Press Association

2013
Robert Moore and Zahira Torres, El Paso Times

2012
The Dallas Morning News: George Rodrigue, Managing Editor; Maud Beelman, Editor; Brooks Egerton; Miles Moffeit; Reese Dunklin; Sue Goetinck Ambrose

2011
Evan Smith, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, The Texas Tribune

2010
Joseph Larsen, FOI Hotline Attorney and Special Counsel, Sedgwick LLP – Houston

2009
Rodney Ellis, Texas State Senator – Houston; Todd Hunter, State Representative – Corpus Christi

2008
John Washburn, Software Tester and Citizen Activist – Wisconsin; challenged the Texas governor’s policy of deleting emails after only seven days

2007
Keven Ann Willey, Vice President and Editorial Page Editor, The Dallas Morning News

2006
Craig Flournoy, Assistant Professor, Southern Methodist University; Dan Malone, Instructor of Journalism, Tarleton State University; Gayle Reaves, Editor, Fort Worth Weekly

2005
Greg Abbott, Attorney General, State of Texas

2004
Howard Swindle, Investigative Reporter and Editor, The Dallas Morning News

2003
Katherine (Missy) Minter Cary, Chief, Texas Attorney General’s Office – Open Records Division; Vanessa E. Curry, Journalist and Faculty Member, University of Texas at Tyler

2002
Vanessa Leggett, Author

2001
John Cornyn, Attorney General of Texas; Ann Arnold, Executive Director, Texas Association of Broadcasters

2000
Dolph Tillotson, President and Publisher, The Galveston County Daily News

1999
Jack Loftis, Associate Publisher and Editor, Houston Chronicle; Jeff Wentworth, Texas State Senator

1998
Bob Bullock, Lieutenant Governor, State of Texas

1997
Carole Kneeland, Vice President of News, KVUE TV, Channel 24 – Austin; Ralph Langer, Executive Vice President and Editor, The Dallas Morning News; M. J. Nicchio, Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, Texas Daily Newspaper Association

1996
Hadassah M. Schloss, Open Records Administrator, Texas General Services Commission; FOI Hotline Attorneys: Laura Peterson Elkind, Dallas; Karen Fannin, Houston; Rob Wiley, Houston

1995
Jud Dixon, Editor, FOI FOCUS; Robert Lett, Citizen, Spring

1994
Anthony P. Griffin, Attorney, Galveston; Robert A. Klaeger, Attorney, Burnet County; Bob Lott, Editor, Waco Tribune-Herald

1993
Tony Pederson, Managing Editor, Houston Chronicle

1992
Barbara Jordan, United States Representative

1991
FOI Hotline Attorneys: Chip Babcock, Dallas and Houston; Jack Balagia, Houston; David Donaldson, Austin; Tom Leatherbury, Dallas; William (Bill) Ogden, Houston; Don Richards, Lubbock; Paul Watler, Dallas; Tom Williams, Fort Worth

1990
Lloyd Doggett, Justice, Supreme Court of Texas

1989
Robert W. Decherd, CEO, A.H. Belo Corporation

1988
John Henry Faulk, Folklorist and First Amendment Scholar

1987
Kent Caperton, Texas State Senator – Bryan; Juan Hinojosa, Texas State Representative – McAllen