"Nine outstanding Missouri legislators who received The Globe-Democrat Awards for meritorious service during the 1959 legislative session at a dinner in Jefferson City..." These awards were given for "showing the greatest growth in leadership", "most effective Senate member in debate", "most effective first-term Senate member", and various other leadership and efficacy based awards. The nine awarded members were as follows: Republican Representative R. J. King Jr., Mrs. C. R. Hawkins (accepting on behalf of her late husband, a former Republican Senator), Democrat Senator Earl R. Blackwell, Democrat Senator Albert M. Spradling Jr., Democrat Representative George D. Young, Democrat Senator Floyd R. Gibson, Democrat Representative Lynn M. Ewing Jr., and Democrat House Speaker Richard H. Ichord.
