U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

January 22, 2007

Special Agent in Charge, Brian D. Lamkin, Columbia Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Jr., President of the South Carolina State Conference NAACP and President of the Columbia Branch, NAACP, has been awarded the Director's 2006 Community Leadership Award. Since 1990, each of the FBI's 56 field offices has nominated one person or group to receive the Director's Award for Community Leadership. The award, given on behalf of Director Robert Mueller, honors those who have dedicated their personal or professional lives to civic achievement.

Dr. Randolph is a graduate of Dreher High School in Columbia and serves as a member of the Dreher High School Foundation Board of Trustees. He is a 1972 graduate of Benedict College and an inductee into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Randolph later studied medicine at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He has practiced optometry privately in Columbia for more than 29 years. Dr. Randolph was the first African American elected as president of the South Carolina Optometric Association.

Dr. Randolph is serving his second two-year term as president of the South Carolina NAACP. He executes his duties with a rare level of skill, confidence and conviction seen only among veteran leaders of the civil rights movement. He remains grounded in our local community by continuing to minister to the needs of the less fortunate and disenfranchised.

In addition to his career accomplishments, Dr. Randolph derives a great deal of pleasure in working to advance the cause of civil rights. He has been at the forefront of the Campaign for Dignity which serves to enlighten people in South Carolina, and across the country, about the racial disparities in education, health care, economic development, housing, employment and criminal justice. He has tackled such tough issues as retiring the Confederate Battle Flag being flown at the South Carolina State House. Dr. Randolph has been a driving force seeking the enactment of South Carolina state hate crime legislation; South Carolina is one of five states without a state hate crime statute.

Dr. Randolph serves as the co-chairperson of Education Equity, a multiracial committee dedicated to exposing the financial neglect of public school districts in South Carolina. The group produced the film, "Corridor of Shame," which won national and international acclaim after being aired on PBS in the fall of 2005. The film received the "Videographer's Award" and the "Pegasus Award"in 2005.

Dr. Randolph remains active in local civic affairs and invests personal time to give advice and direction to young people at
schools and colleges around the state of South Carolina. He has been a lecturer at Benedict College's Annual Pre-health advocacy groups. He has been commended for outstanding public service on two occasions by both the South Carolina House and State Senate.

Finally, Dr. Randolph is a former chairman of the South Carolina Commission on Consumer Affairs, currently serving as its acting chairman. Dr. Randolph has twice received the Service Award of the South Carolina Optometric Association. His commitment to those most in need is evidenced by his service as a member of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind Diabetes Task Force and as a former board member of the Columbia Free Medical Clinic.