1/8/2021, 6 a.m. Courageous Leadership Award Adrienne Jones, Maryland House of Delegates Speaker has been a delegate since 1997, originally serving as Speaker Pro Tempore in the Maryland House of Delegates for 16 years. In 2019, she received the Casper R. Taylor Jr. Founderâs Award for her government service, the highest award given to a member of the House of Delegates. She served for 37 years as the first executive director of the Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs, as deputy director of the Baltimore County Office of Human Resources, and is the founder of the annual Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival, now in its 21st year.