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Submitted photo State Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus, was honored Thursday at the Governor's Awards in the Humanities ceremony in Atlanta. The governor was not in attendance because he was meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the Executive Mansion, so he asked state Rep. Mark Burkhalter to present the awards in his absence. Burkhalter is former Administration Floor Leader in the House for Gov. Sonny Perdue and currently is Speaker Pro Tempore of the House. From left are Burkhalter, Hooks and Dr. Thomas Hynes, chair of the Georgia Humanities Council (which sponsor the awards in conjunction with the governor). Also of note, in the latest issue of ‘James’ magazine, Hooks was named as one of 2008 Georgians of the Year. ‘ ... Hooks ... remains an influential voice in the upper chamber.’