Robert S. Alley, University of Richmond professor of humanities emeritus, has been named one of three recipients of a 2006 First Freedom Award from the Council for America’s First Freedom.
He joined Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic. and Chet Edwards, seven-term U.S. Representative from Waco, Texas., in receiving the award on Jan. 18 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.
Havel will receive the International First Freedom Award, Edwards the National First Freedom Award and Alley the Virginia First Freedom Award.
“These three honorees have dedicated much of their professional lives to the defense of religious liberty,” said Tommy Baer, president of the Council for America’s First Freedom. “They are people of conscience and principles whose insights and courage have helped deepen our collective understanding of religious freedom and fortify the foundation of the inherent human right.”
Alley, a member of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond, is a strong proponent of separation between church and state and author of several books on religion, government and education, including School Prayer: The Court, the Congress, and the First Amendment. He was the first recipient of the Virginia ACLU Bill of Rights Award in 1994.
The 12th annual awards commemorated the 220th anniversary of the nation’s first law guaranteeing religious liberty.
Special to the Herald