Inaugural NAELA Elder Leadership Award Finalists

Bess (Budd) Lander Bell

Considered an “institution” at the Florida Capitol, 91-year-old Bess (Budd) Lander Bell has been a driving force behind the passage of numerous landmark pieces of legislation affecting Florida residents.

Three decades ago, the Canadian native helped pioneer coordinated childcare legislation, spearheading the creation of advocacy organizations like the Florida Center for Children and Youth.

Along with her late husband, Dr. William Bell, she helped raise awareness of the transportation needs of people with disabilities leading to programs like Dial-A-Ride. She also joined forces with former Attorney General Janet Reno and former Florida State University president Sandy D’Alemberte to craft the Baker Act, which protects the rights of Florida’s mentally ill population.

For the past 20 years, she has served as the coordinator for the Clearinghouse on Human Services, an organization comprised of more than 200 advocacy groups that lobby at the Capitol on behalf of those needing health and human services. One of her greatest achievements is training more than 500 social workers to be advocates for their clients. Budd makes her home in Tallahassee, Florida.

Dr. Elbert C. Cole

In 1975, Dr. Elbert C. Cole founded the Shepherd’s Centers of America – an interfaith, nonprofit organization that encouraged elder involvement in the community.

The movement originated in Kansas City, Missouri, where Cole was serving as senior minister of a large mid-town church.

Despite the Shepherd’s Centers humble beginning, the intent was to eventually build a nationwide network of community-based centers dedicated to providing meaning and purpose for aging adults.

Today, the organization has grown to encompass approximately 75 centers in 21 states serving tens of thousands of elders. The centers partner with all religious groups and are led by independent boards of trustees, each sharing the common mission to involve seniors in community improvement efforts. While leading the Shepherd’s Centers effort, Cole also continued to care for his dementia-stricken wife – traveling around the nation with her by his side.   Rev. Cole calls Kansas City, Missori home.

Saul Friedman

Boldly tackling controversial issues such as Medicare and the insurance industry, Saul Friedman has become a spokesperson for the nation’s senior population in recent years.

The former White House reporter has spent the past decade penning “Grey Matters,” a popular column published in Newsday, the nation’s 13th largest daily newspaper, with more than a half a million circulation. “Grey Matters” focuses on issues impacting the elder community and people with disabilities.

From declaring his support for universal health care to criticizing various aspects of the new Medicare Part D program and the war in Iraq, Friedman’s columns have garnered the attention of legislators and senior support groups alike.

In recognition of Friedman’s advocacy efforts, the Brookdale Center on Aging gave his column their “distinguished service award.” In April of 2003, Friedman suffered a stroke but was eventually able to return to writing by typing with only one hand – proving even more of an inspiration to the thousands of seniors that regularly read his column. Saul resides in Edgewater, Maryland.

Eugene Lehrmann

Despite retirement, Eugene Lehrmann has often spent 30 to 40 hours per week volunteering on various boards and lobbying for legislation to benefit the elder population.

The Madison, Wisconsin native is a former AARP national president and long-time advocate for retirees and senior citizens – particularly in relation to health care delivery, pension reform and Social Security program protection.

Lehrmann started out in education, teaching for 17 years and serving as an administrator for 20 years before ending his professional career in 1979 as Wisconsin’s Director of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education. He has served on several boards over the years, including the American Vocational Association, the Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association and the Advisory Committee to the Department of Health and Social Services Community Options Program.

He was also the legislative representative for the Wisconsin Coalition on Aging.  For the past three decades, Lehrmann has tirelessly worked on behalf of Oakwood Village in Madison, helping bring the nationally accredited continuing care retirement community from near bankruptcy to financial stability.  Eugene lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

NAELA Wishes to Extend a Special Thank You to GRAND Magazine for support of the NAELA Elder Leadership Award.