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For an Outstanding ALRID Interpreter - written by Mary Ann Hickman
As a way of introduction to those who are a new interpreter, a young interpreter, or an interpreter just recently moved to Alabama, you might not recognize the name Mary Lou Bingham. For many interpreters she has been a colleague, a friend, and a mentor. In 1973, she was the first interpreter in Alabama to receive national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) - Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC).
Mary Lou Bingham Award Recipients	Mary Lou, "Mama Lou" as she is fondly called, was born on May 4, 1916, in Midfield, Alabama, near Birmingham. Her parents were Leroy and Mary (Batson) Canoles. They attended the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega. Mama Lou remembers that she began interpreting when she was 10 years old at a gathering with her parents and other deaf people. Over 75 years of interpreting experiences! She began interpreting in church when she was 14 years old. Mama Lou's philosophy on the interpreting profession: "To communicate with the deaf, learn their language and communicate in ASL at the level they are most comfortable. Please learn their culture, be a friend, and don't be too professional!" Mama Lou has been published in the RID Views many times. Check out the issues for July 1998 and August/September 1998 for very informative articles written by her. At eighty-two years old she was still "sharp as a tack".
Paula Frederick
Belinda Montgomery
Robin Price
Cookie Davis
Sue Scott
In 1996, ALRID printed and sold the book, Mary Lou Bingham, Memories-Alabama RID. Well, once again there is a desire for more copies of this interesting collection of ALRID history as it was being made by many of the folks you know or have heard their names mentioned repeatedly. The book has letters, articles, pictures, logos, newsletters, and even a copy of the first bylaws for ALRID.
In doing research for this article, I found that the original bylaws- Article XVIII- Awards stated: The ALRID Award for outstanding service to the Alabama Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf will be presented biennially, provided a qualified recipient can be named…. The award will be in the from of a framed certificate. A letter, a copy of which will be placed in the permanent Chapter files, will accompany this award. It recognizes major contributions to ALRID's growth, interpreting programs, and administrative junctions. In the early 1990's, this award was named the Mary Lou Bingham Award and given as a plaque. The award name change was made on the basis of Mama Lou's many contributions, achievements and outstanding, long-term service to the Alabama Chapter. Mama Lou reports, "I'm leaving the interpreting to you young folks." In 2004 the Mary Lou Bingham award has been changed once again. This time it has gone from a nice plaque to an award that carries a little bit of Mama Lou with it.