By Twomucht, Ourtown National News Editor,
　
Eight years ago, Tom Livsey, a former investment banker, who now is a national news editor and talk show host, created the, "Promised Land Top 50 Difference Maker Awards".

He did so, in order to acknowledge Americans of all races, who are visionaries this year, to spread, 'Universal Love'.

In addition, many of these individuals are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, alive. They are not doing this for fanfare, or community recognition, but merely, by the way they choose to make a difference, one person at a time.

To be sure all of these special people are civic minded leaders, who are located all around the nation. Unfortunately, a few of them have gone on ahead to meet St. Peter at the 'Golden Gates' !

In 1925, Tom Livsey's grandfather Robert Livsey purchased a third of the 1000 acres of the historic Promised Land Plantation, the community includes the original 1820 Thomas Maguire house that survived General Sherman's 'March to the Sea', that the general blazed through Georgia, at the end of the Civil War,

(http://www.gwinnetths.org/Tour/default.asp)

The Thomas Maguire House is the oldest plantation structure in Gwinnett County, Georgia, that still stands today in 2012!

Margaret Mitchell, the author of "Gone With The Wind", visited numerous times during her research in the 1920's for her now famous novel that has made over 2.9 billion dollars.

Today most historians acknowledged that over 40 % of her novel, came from the farm journal diaries of Thomas Maguire. Up to her death, Mrs. Mitchell protested that she did not refer to any documents what so ever in the research of her book...She failed to name her sources !

Today the plantation is home to many members of the extended Livsey family. The Promised Land community is located off Centerville Highway & Lee Rd., seven miles south of Hwy. 78 in Snellville, Ga.

"Seven years ago, my parents, Thomas and Dorethia Livsey, received a lifetime achievement award from the Gwinnett Chapter of the NAACP, for their service in the Gwinnett County community", reveals Tom Livsey.

"That same year, my dad and I, learned about the many branches on our other family tree from my white cousin, Annette Livsey Merritt of Decatur.

She and her sister Avis, accompanied us to the National Archives in East Point, to help patch up the holes in our family genealogical research", he added.

Dr King's, infamous last public speech, made strong inferences to this historic Promised Land, a large plantation during the Civil War, that he discovered from the mountaintop of Stone Mountain. Once an exclusive site for the KKK rallies, that is located seven miles away, where during those times, no black man was allowed to climb to the top.

"Mine eyes have seen the fertile land of promise", as illustrated by the last paragraph of his speech below: ,( no recorded evidence though).

source: ( http://www.afscme.org/about/1549.cfm).

"We are the Livseys. ... For the first time about four summers ago, the White and Black Livseys celebrated a family reunion together, after over 170 years apart.

It was a wonderful occasion.

No one owed no one an explanation or excuse for the past. No animosity. No guilt. The only thing each and everyone left with was a whole new family tree. How about that. Since then, we have become one family.", exclaims Tom Livsey.

The Livseys were one of the first families to settle in Gwinnett County in 1840, certified by Gwinnett County Historical Society. Today , the Livseys are just one family.

Please understand that no other connection, be it coincidential or not, have any reverence about these individuals named on the list below, other than being simple civic pillars for the community, for which they continue to uphold.

In no way, those of you, who are not named, made your valuble contributional efforts to your community, no less important.

So, I especially challenge you all not named, to make a conscientous change this year for the better, in your community, in order to make this list next year...
So without any further ado...Ladies and Gentlemen, here are the 2012 Top 50 Promised Land Difference Maker Award Winners !
　
* The Following Is In No Listing Order:

1.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family
2. President /Mrs. Obama
3 .The Whole Livsey Family-(Worldwide)
4. The Thomas Maguire Family
5. The David Anderson Family
6. The Mason Family
7. Sen. Max Cleland
8. Ms. Opera Winfrey
9. Mr. Andrew Young
10. The Hampton Family
11. The Austin Family (Worldwide)
12. The Williams Family
13. Mr. Darwin Ali
14. The Dana Whitworth Family
15. Mr. Roger Ach
16. Judge Clarke (Gwinnet Co.)
17. The Snell Family
18. The Waits Family
19. The Hopper Family
20. Mr. Onaje Allan Gumbs
21. The Britt Family
22. Ms. Lori Finnila
23. Atty. Alan Mullinite- Renowned Gwinnett Co. Attorney
24. The Anderson Family
25. .Dr. & Mrs. Coletti
26. Mr. Steve Jobs
27. Ms. Ron Paul Girl
28. Mr. Gary Tavares
29. Coach Joe Paterno
30. Mrs. Carol Meinhart
31. The Nan Nash Family
32. The Janis Anderson Family & Georgia Military College
33. The Sons Of The Confederate Veterans
34. Mrs. Cheryl Smith (Dept. of Ga. Travel & Tourism)
35. Mr. Don Kapela
36. Mrs.Elizabeth Taylor
37. Mr. Darin Stahl

38. Mr.Chris Burnett-OurTown Media
39. Mr. Tim Tebow
40. Mr/Mrs. Fort (Sharon)
41. Atty. Dwight Thomas- Celebrity Lawyer
42. Dr. Kim Livsey
43. Mr. Drew Brees
44. Former President Jimmy Carter
45. El Jinete Mexican Restaurant Family
46. Mr. Ron Paul
47. Mr. Tom Brady
48. Mr. Barry Thrope Family
49. Mr Arthur Blank
50. Mr. Mike Coskrey

To be sure, this list is not meant to be a complete list of those who have made a difference this past year.

However, it is meant to shine a light on those who have lit a torch in others, when the light in their lives were none existing.

We challenge all of you, no matter your race or complexion, to take this Black History Month to make a difference in your own community.

There are so many young people who have dark caves where a heart should be. They need someone to light their individual torch of life in them.

Please take several books of matches, and light as many torches in the coming year, so they can find their life's purpose.

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