In 1994, Holocaust Museum Houston established the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award in memory of the 36th president of the United States.

"Moral Courage" refers to that single act, or lifetime of behavior, that depends on a certain resolve. In 1938, as a congressman, Johnson worked tirelessly to provide American sanctuary, and virtually a new life, to forty-three, and perhaps several hundred more, threatened European Jews. Johnson did so by stretching the limits of his authority to the utmost and risking the personal dreams his actions might shatter. President Johnson continued his extraordinary efforts throughout his career on behalf of minorities, the aged and the young. Recipients of this award are individuals who, like Johnson, exhibit moral courage, individual responsibility and the willingness to take action against injustice.

 

Past Honorees

1995  Ben Love 
Retired Chairman and CEO (1972-1989), Texas Commerce Banks.
As an Air Force pilot in World War II, Ben Love witnessed the atrocities and horrors of the Holocaust and committed his life to serving as an advocate for Holocaust education.

1996  Miep Gies 
Former bookkeeper for the Otto Frank Family and Righteous Rescuer.
Miep Gies was honored for risking her life daily to provide sustenance and support for Anne Frank and seven others during their two years in hiding.

1996  Nathan Klein (Awarded Posthumously)
Member of the Houston Jewish Community.
Nathan Klein saved the lives of many European Jews by quietly sponsoring their admission to the United States so they could escape Nazi-occupied Europe.

1997 Edgar M. Bronfman
Chairman of the Seagram Company, Ltd.
Edgar Bronfman is president of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, which is devoted to ensuring the return of Jewish property stolen by the Nazis.

1998  Steven Spielberg
Partner of Dreamworks, SKG.
Steven Spielberg heightened Holocaust awareness across the globe with his movie “Schindler’s List.” His continued devotion to Holocaust education led to creation of the Righteous Persons Foundation and the Shoah Foundation.

2000  Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State and Retired General.
Colin Powell has made significant contributions both as one of our nation’s most outstanding military leaders and as an advocate for America’s youth.

5th Anniversary
2001  Lloyd Bentsen, Jr.
United States Senator and World War II Veteran.
Lloyd Benson, Jr., was honored for his bravery and leadership as a soldier in World War II and for his service to humanity throughout his political career.
 
Ruth Gruber
Journalist, Humanitarian and Activist.
Dr. Ruth Gruber received a special fifth-anniversary award for saving 1,000 refugees from the Nazis in 1944.

2002 Bob Dole
United States Senator, 1996 Presidential Candidate, World War II Veteran.
Bob Dole was honored for his courage on the battlefield during World War II and his advocacy for the disadvantaged and Americans with disabilities.

2004 Kingdom of Denmark
In 1943, after learning of an imminent German action to deport Danish Jews, Denmark’s government and general population took part in a massive boatlift that delivered Jews to a neutral haven in Sweden.

2005 President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Awarded Posthumously)
Dwight Eisenhower has been celebrated for his tactical and strategic abilities in executing Allied landings on D-Day and for his insistence that evidence of the Holocaust be witnessed and recorded.

Bob Hope (Patriot Award, Awarded Posthumously)
Bob Hope’s unwavering commitment to the morale of America’s servicemen and women is legendary. In October 1997, Resolution 75 was unanimously passed by members of both houses making him an Honorary Veteran – the first individual so honored in the history of the United States.

Tom Brokaw (Legacy Award)
The author of “The Greatest Generation,” “The Greatest Generation Speaks” and “An Album of Memories” was honored with the Legacy Award for his contribution to memorializing the unique character and accomplishments of the generation of Americans that won World War II.

2006 Sir Bob Geldof
A musician, entrepreneur and humanitarian, Sir Bob Geldof has used his talent, determination and eloquence to propel social issues to the forefront of popular consciousness time and time again.

2007 Daniel Pearl
Slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was honored in recognition of his work to build bridges among people of different cultures and for the moral courage he exhibited when captured, and eventually murdered, by terrorists in Pakistan while covering the war on terror.

2008 The Houston Community of Holocaust Survivors and Norman Lear
The 2008 awards honored the Houston Community of Holocaust Survivors and acclaimed television producer and director Norman Lear.