The JFK Lancer-Mary Ferrell Pioneer Award is given in appreciation for a lifetime of searching for the truth in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. James Lesar is the 2012 recipient of this significant award presented in recognition of his work as founder and President of the Assassination Archives and Research Center. Records released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) have been primary source materials for researchers investigating the JFK., MLK, and RFK cases for the past two-and-a-half decades. The AARC has obtained hundreds of thousands of these records. The AARC's holdings comprise the most extensive collection of records on the JFK assassination in private hands. It has approximately 1,500 books on assassinations, organized crime, covert activities, and a wide variety of other subjects relevant to the study of assassinations and related topics. Its "main files" consist of newspaper and magazine articles, unpublished manuscripts, trial transcripts, photographs, tapes, notes, letters and other materials. You can read more at aarclibrary.org.

 Mary Ferrell began this award in 1996 and asked that it be given each year to those who have truly dedicated so much of their lives in the collection and sharing of materials to those within the JFK assassination research community. She would be proud to see you selected this year as she admired your work with ARRC very much.

Lesar provide the following remarks: Thank you very much for bestowing upon me Lancer's Mary Ferrell Legacy Award. It is gratifying to have public acknowledgment of the contributions which I have been able to make on behalf of the AARC to enrich the documentary basis for understanding the complex circumstances regarding the assassination of President Kennedy and its investigations. What is truly remarkable is that for nearly five decades now, dedicated researchers have continued to search for the truth in the face of frequent official and news media disdain, indifference, ignorance, misinformation or ridicule. Hopefully, we may be at point where we can turn the tide back in favor of honest and accurate official and news media evaluation of what has been learned over the past 49 years--and what remains to be learned and to be done. Thank you again for the award.

 The JFK Lancer - Mary Ferrell Legacy Award Presented to Ben Rogers

 The JFK Lancer - Mary Ferrell New Frontier Award Presented to Pat Spear

The JFK Lancer - Mary Ferrell New Frontier Award is a presented in appreciation of new contributions of evidence that advance the study of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This year Pat Spear is also is honored. Mary Ferrell began this award in 1996 and asked that it be given each year to those who have truly dedicated so much of their lives in the collection and sharing of materials with others, particularly your comprehensive website and online book, "A New Perspective on the Kennedy Assassination". She would be proud to see you selected this year. It is my hope that this award, in her name, will encourage you to continue your work. Spear's online book analyzes the evidence with a fresh perspective and contains information gleaned from study of approximately 30,000 pages of government reports, medical texts, forensics journals, and newspaper articles.

Unable to attend the conference, Spear provided the following remarks: I am deeply honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award. At the invite of Larry Hancock, I made an appearance at the 2004 Lancer Conference. In preparation for this appearance I created a Power Point presentation on the JFK medical evidence. I returned the next year with a greatly expanded presentation. I continued to expand this presentation for a few years, and eventually turned it into the still-expanding book at www.patspeer.com. When I first started researching the case, I was thoroughly impressed with the researchers who'd preceded me--in particular those whose efforts lay in making information available to others regardless of their personal take on the assassination. Mary Ferrell, Harold Weisberg, Rex Bradford, Debra Conway. To me, they were, and remain, heroes. And so I long ago decided to incorporate within my online book information that would prove helpful to other researchers, regardless of their personal take on the shooting. The receipt of this award gives me hope this is coming to pass. While I'm sad I am unable to receive this award in person, I'd like all to know that I am there in spirit.

The JFK Lancer - Mary Ferrell New Frontier Award Presented to Stephen Roy

The JFK Lancer - Mary Ferrell New Frontier Award is a presented in appreciation of new contributions of evidence that advance the study of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This year Stephen Roy is honored. In 1992, Stephen produced "He Must Have Something," a 90-minute television documentary about Jim Garrison's investigation of President Kennedy's assassination. Stephen testified at the Review Board's public hearing in New Orleans, and announced that he would donate to the National Archive's JFK Collection a copy of his documentary along with the outtakes of approximately 30 interviews that he conducted for the documentary. Among those interviewed are former District Attorney Jim Garrison, New Orleans witness Perry Russo, and Warren Commission critic Mark Lane. 

Mary Ferrell began this award in 1996 and asked that it be given each year to those who have truly dedicated so much of their lives in the collection and sharing of materials with others. She would be proud to see you selected this year as you were only beginning back when she was with us. It is our hope that this award, in her name, will encourage you to continue your work, particularly on David Ferrie. In the future, all the materials, almost 50 years of them, will continue to be accessible because of efforts such as yours.

Stephen provided the following acceptance remarks: My profound thanks to JFKLancer for this recognition. I try to approach my research with no preconceptions and simply follow where the evidence leads. David Ferrie was an interesting guy: Some of what you've heard about him proves true, and I try to extend that further; Some other things you've heard prove untrue or difficult to confirm. In the end, it is helpful to have a truer picture of Ferrie and his role in this. Many at Lancer and in the research community have helped me and inspired me. And whether we agree or politely disagree, I offer my respect and thanks to all of you in our collective pursuit of the truth.

The JFK Lancer-Mary Ferrell Promise Award Presented to Joe Hall

 The JFK Lancer-Mary Ferrell Promise Award recognizes new and innovative efforts in advancing interest and study in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This year Joe Hall was a recipient. Joe's initiative made it possible to create a Facebook forum that encourages focus groups to study individual portions of the assassination. 

Mary Ferrell began this award in 1996 and asked that it be given each year to those who have truly dedicated so much of their lives in the collection and sharing of materials with others. She would be proud to see Joe selected this year as she loved to apply her computer to study of the case and we believe Mary would have enjoyed Facebook and its many uses. It is JFK Lancer's hope that this award, in her name, will encourage you to continue your work, particularly on Facebook with your research group.

Hall was unable to attend to attend the conference, but provided the following comments: I am honored to accept this award on the behalf of all members of our Facebook group JFK: Searching for the Truth. In particular may I mention David Rees Jones, Co-administrator and coordinator of the focus groups. Thank you for this special recognition, I shall treasure it.

The JFK Lancer-Mary Ferrell Promise Award  Presented to Frank Beckendorf

The JFK Lancer-Mary Ferrell Promise Award was also presented to Frank Beckendorf, co-editor of "Enemy of the Truth: Myths, Forensics and the Kennedy Assassination." Frank volunteered to assist in this major with a project in addition to hosting several online Facebook forums addressing the Kennedy assassination. 

Mary Ferrell would have been proud to see Frank selected this year as she encouraged and assisted so many researchers in publishing their work either in articles, website, or books. Many are unaware but Mary actually edited and footnoted many books that we now cherish as our faithful resources. Your encouragement of others and your willingness to be of assistance is something Mary would be proud of. It is our hope that this award, in her name, will encourage you to continue your work, particularly writing, editing, and research.

Beckendorf was unable to attend the conference, however, he provided the following remarks: This is such an honor. I have been a fan of Mary's since I was introduced to her name via print materials related to the assassination. Her dedication to solving this crime has furthered the determination of RFK and thousands of others who have never been satisfied with government explanations. This is truly encouraging. Thank you.