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N early 900 distinguished patrons gathered at the Hilton Americas-Houston to salute a pair of visionaries who represent the apex of the human spirit. The night also marked the pinnacle of the spring social season: Holocaust Museum Houston's LBJ Moral Courage Award Dinner, an evening that annually celebrates individuals who have heroically stood up for their convictions against great odds. (Past honorees have ranged from Norman Mailer to Mia Farrow.) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was recognized posthumously for his tenacity and unshakable fortitude as the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. His son, Martin Luther King III, accepted on his behalf. Also honored was Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein, a tireless supporter of human rights. Both received the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award for their continued commitment to action. Another champion of the Civil Rights Movement, U.S. Representative John Lewis, movingly addressed the crowd as keynote speaker. Holocaust Museum chairman Mark Mucasey and Lyndon Baines Johnson's daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, shared their own words of wisdom. The evening was topped off by a seated kosher dinner and an extraordinary bottom line: $1.1 million for the museum and its mission. Spirited supporters: chairmen Crystal Ashby, Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, J. Kent Friedman, Regina Rogers, David Solomon, and Shawn Taylor; honorary chairs Stanford Alexander, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza, U.S. Representative Al Green, Rabbi Samuel Karff, Reverend William Lawson, Arthur Schechter, and Fred Zeidman; Mayor Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard; Consul General of Israel Meir Shlomo; Sue and Lester Smith; Charlotte and Peter Berkowitz; Lexi Klein; Susan Bischoff; Yvonne and Rufus Cormier; Judge Joel Clouser; Judge Robert Schaffer; Heidi Gerger with daughter Ria; and Bo Alfred. CIVIL RIGHTS + SURVIVORS Holocaust Museum Houston's Storied LBJ Moral Courage Dinner ERIN OPPENHEIM REPORTS. PHOTOGRAPHY PRISCILLA DICKSON, WILSON PARISH. Fred Zeidman Chairman Crystal Ashby Annise Parker Helen Colin Lauren Daily David Hassid Jennifer Huber Sue Smith Lester Smith Trish Morille Chairman J. Kent Friedman Marcia Solomon Chairman David Solomon Martin Luther King III Rufus Cormier Lorraine Wulfe Ed Wulfe Yvonne Cormier Heidi Gerger Ria Gerger Charlotte Berkowitz Gerald Smith Anita Smith Mark Mucasey Peter Berkowitz John Lewis Honorary chairman William Lawson Luci Baines Johnson Chairman Regina Rogers HOUSTON CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT ASHER GALLERY Asher Gallery at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft In the Museum District | 4848 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 | 713.529.4848 x 201 | retail@crafthouston.org Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Closed Sundays, July 4 - Labor Day www.crafthouston.org/shop MEMBERS SAVE 10% Shop for Unique Gifts & One-of-a-Kind Art Objects Bill Burch, "Creamer, Wabi-Sabi Vase, and Large Pitcher." Glass. Photo by HCCC. Caitie Sellers, "Brooch #1," Mixed Media. Photo courtesy of the artist.