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]. This year’s deadline is June 14, 2024.
James Madison Award Winners
2024
SMU Dedman School of Law First Amendment Clinic
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
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