General Rhodes was a chairman of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in 1895 and was the first editor and publisher of Birmingham newspaper "The Evening News" - a predecessor to today's largest newspaper in the state of Alabama, "The Birmingham News." An award in his honor will be given out annually to a journalist or media executive whose cumulative works or singular leadership skills have significantly impacted, shaped, and improved the public image of the Birmingham region and encouraged economic development in the community.  A steering committee of education leaders and public relations professionals was formed in early 2006 to develop the criteria and choose up to three award winners.

The 2007 winners of the Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media award include from left to right Eddie Lard accepting for the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists in the organization category, Lissa LeGrand accepting on behalf of her late father Duard LeGrand of the Birmingham Post Herald in the posthumous category and Jeh Jeh Pruitt of Fox 6 in the individual organization.

The inaugural class of the Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership award winners include Kelli Hewett Taylor, individual category; Margie Brooke accepting for her late husband Ron Casey in the posthumous category; Richard Mills accepting for his late father Jimmy Mills in the posthumous category; James Finch accepting for WBRC Fox 6 in the organization category.

The 2007 Leadership award winners will be announced October 2 at the Third Annual Media Night Awards. Below are the finalists accomplishments.