Los Angeles, June 3, 1999 - Richard Masur, President of the Screen Actors Guild, today announced that Kent McCord has been selected to receive the Guild's prestigious Ralph Morgan Award. The Award is named after SAG's first President, the performer who led the fight to establish a union for screen actors in 1933. It is given periodically for distinguished service to the Guild's Hollywood Branch.
The Ralph Morgan Award will be presented to McCord during the Guild's Hollywood Midyear Membership Meeting on Sunday, June 6, in recognition of McCord's many years of dedicated service to the Guild.
McCord, who is best known as police officer Jim Reed on the long running NBC TV series ADAM-12, was first elected to the National Board of Directors in 1972 and served on the Board for 11 years. He was twice elected to two-year terms as the Guild's First Vice President.
Among McCord's many other film and television credits are Seaquest-DSV, Silk Stalkings, Airplane II, Predator 2 and Galactica 1980.
In addition to his service on the Board, McCord chaired the Children's Committee and helped fashion protections for child performers working for SAG signatory companies. He also chaired the Guild's Publications Committee, the Agents Relations Committee and represented the American acting community to The Federation Internationale des Acteurs (FIA).
"Kent has always been a determined and hard-working advocate for the rights of working performers. His efforts as a member of the Board, as the Guild's First Vice President and as the chair of SAG's Children's Committee have contributed greatly to the benefits enjoyed by professional actors, particularly child performers. Kent has continued, after his service on SAG's National Board ended, to serve the Guild and actors everywhere. SAG is pleased to be able to recognize his outstanding efforts on the union's behalf," said Masur.
Among the previous recipients of the Award are past SAG Presidents Dennis Weaver and William Schallert, Guild Executive Directors Jack Dales and Chester Migden and members Marie Windsor, Ann Doran and Ron Soble.
The Ralph Morgan Award recipient is selected by the Guild's National Awards Committee, chaired by Paul Napier, SAG's Third Vice President.
