LEEDS — Hundreds of attendees packed into the Barber Motorsports Museum and Event Center on Friday night for the 2025 Albert Patterson Gala hosted by 1819 News.
Albert Patterson, the namesake of the event and the outlet's most prestigious award, was assassinated after winning the Democratic Primary for the attorney general's office in Alabama in 1954. Patterson was killed after running on a promise to clean up Phenix City's illegal gambling, prostitution, alcohol, and drug trade problems.
The most anticipated part of the evening for many was a keynote speech from stalwart conservative and star political commentator Tucker Carlson. Carlson, known for his tenacity and for speaking the truth even under fire, accepted the Albert Patterson Courage Award on behalf of the late founder of TurningPoint USA, Charlie Kirk.
1819 News first began hosting the Gala in 2024. It gave its inaugural flagship award, the Albert Patterson Courage Award, to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), "2000 Mules" producer and True the Vote partner Gregg Phillips, and Drs. Jordan Vaughn and Stewart Tankersley of Concerned Doctors.
This year, the Albert Patterson Courage Award was also awarded to 1819 News reporter Craig Monger, former Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner Kent Davis and the Eagle Forum of Alabama, with organization president Becky Gerritson accepting on its behalf.
Monger was honored for his reporting on the well-known Bubba Copeland saga that garnered global headlines.
Davis was recognized for his nonstop work supporting veterans and a standoff with Gov. Kay Ivey that unfairly ended his time with the ADVA.
The Eagle Forum received the award in recognition of its continued advocacy for policies based on traditional, conservative values in the state and its support of a ban on transgender surgeries for minors.
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