Richard Williamson, who earned the SB in electrical engineering and computer science in 1985 and a master's degree from the Harvard University School of Education, teaches in a "last chance" alternative program in Boston. He shares his home with members of God's Posse, a group of young men who have chosen to become productive members of their community. As an undergraduate, he was president of Black Students in Electrical Engineering and a member of Tau Beta Pi.

In nominating Mr. Williamson, Raymond E. Samuel, a research fellow and physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said, "The guy has laid down his life for something he has a passion for. Instead of asking what can America do for me — big job, big car, big house — Richard simply has done something that will benefit America in the long run."

Mr. Williamson noted Dr. King's observation that a life is not worth living until a person "finds something worth dying for." In his own case, Mr. Williamson said, "I found in these young men, on the streets of Boston, something worth dying for." [MIT News Office, 10 Feb 1999]

A month after receiving the MLK Leadership Award, he also received a Heroes Among Us award from the Boston Celtics at the FleetCenter.