A local native has been honored as this year’s Distinguished Rural Kentuckian by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.

A news release from the association says Cerulean native Dr. Lincoln Bingham received the award earlier this month. Dr. Bingham is the senior pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in Louisville.

The Christian County native was nominated by Pennyrile Rural Electric and has become well known in the commonwealth as a preacher and pastor—with special abilities to work with different groups within the church.

Dr. Bingham joined long-time friend Reverend Mark Payton of Shivley Heights Baptist Church in recent years to merge their two churches—one with a primarily black congregation and one with a primarily white congregation.

Past award winners include Cawood Ledford, former Governor Happy Chandler and Senator Wendell Ford.

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11/30/2012/am