xernona clayton. >> reporter: and in 1993 clayton became the co-founder of the trumpet awards, whichually offers the achievements of african-americans. also with us was georgia congressman john lewis. lewis was a teenager when he first met king. >> i wrote him a letter when i was 17. he wrote me back. sent me a round-trip greyhound bus ticket. and invited me to come to montgomery to meet with him. and i walked in that church. i was so scared. i didn't know what to say or what to do. and he said, oh, you're the boy from troy? are you john lewis? and i said, "dr. king, i'm john robert lewis." and that changed my life. >> reporter: lewis would become the chairman of snic, the student non-viernt coordinate's committee, a group known for its protests and sitins. it was a critical part of the civil rights struggle. lewis born just outside troy, alabama was one of the 13 original freedom riders. also with us was the wife of john ralph abernathy, juanita, who was born in lindy, am alabama. it was her husband ralph along with dr. king who organized the famous montgomery bus boycott. history w