Dewey Roberts II Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

The Knoxville Area Urban League recognized the civil rights leader for his decades of service to the community.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Awards

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a brass medal on a wooden lectern, representing a civic lifetime achievement award. — The Knoxville Area Urban League presented its Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award to Dewey Roberts II for his advocacy work. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Knoxville Area Urban League presented its Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award to Dewey Roberts II. The gala ceremony honored the long-time activist for his extensive contributions to the region.

Why it matters

The recognition celebrates a legacy of advocacy that helped reshape local education and public oversight in Knoxville. Roberts served as president of the local NAACP for 16 years and remains a pivotal figure in the city's civil rights history.

Dewey Roberts II spent 16 years leading the Knoxville NAACP and filed a landmark 1989 civil rights complaint against the Knox County school district. The activist also cofounded the Committee for the Development of the Black Community in the early 1960s.

The players

Dewey Roberts II

He is an 81-year-old civil rights leader who served as the president of the Knoxville NAACP for 16 years.

Knoxville Area Urban League

This organization promotes economic and social equality through advocacy and community programming.

Victor Ashe

He served as the mayor of Knoxville and established the city's Police Advisory and Review Committee in 1998.

The details

Roberts was recognized for his long-standing work during the Urban League's Equal Opportunity Awards Gala. His past advocacy led to significant local reforms, including the conversion of Austin-East High School into a magnet school and the establishment of a city police review committee.

Dewey Roberts II began his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement during the early 1960s.
A civil rights complaint against Knox County Schools was filed by Roberts in 1989.
Mayor Victor Ashe formed the Police Advisory and Review Committee in 1998.
Roberts published his autobiography, My Moments in the Movement, in 2025.
The award was presented to Roberts on October 8, 2026.

Roadmap

The award highlights the enduring impact of grassroots civil rights litigation on local public institutions like the Knox County school district. This legacy continues to shape the strategies used by community leaders to pursue systemic equity in municipal governance.

Residents can better understand the city's modern infrastructure and school policies by reading the 2025 autobiography published by Roberts. The award ceremony underscores the ongoing importance of local civic engagement in shaping current city services.

The takeaway

Roberts serves as a model for how persistent local advocacy can result in permanent improvements to public education and police accountability. His career demonstrates the long-term influence an individual can have on the social fabric of their city.