House Speaker David Wilkins will receive the Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award today in Salt Lake City from a national group of state lawmakers.

Wilkins, R-Greenville, will receive the award at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The award is given to a House or Senate leader “who has worked to build and preserve public trust in the legislative institution and whose career embodies the qualities of integrity, leadership, courage and high ethical standards.”

Wilkins was nominated by former Mississippi House Speaker Tim Ford, along with S.C. House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Richland, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., USC historian Walter Edgar and Mark Kent, former president of the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance.

“To get a national honor like this by people that deal with the same problems you deal with is probably the highest honor you can get,” Wilkins said. “I’m flattered, obviously.”

With the award comes $10,000 to be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice. Wilkins selected the Meyers Center for Special Children in Greenville. The center works with handicapped children.

Wilkins was chosen by a bipartisan selection committee that includes Marty Linsky of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Charles Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report, and Alan Ehrenhalt, executive editor of Governing Magazine.

In his nomination letter, Edgar praised Wilkins for his role in removing the Confederate flag from the State House dome in 2000.

During a daylong debate on the issue in the House, Edgar said Wilkins “remained calm and poised,” despite the fact that many of his fellow Republicans opposed the flag’s removal. “He let opponents have their say but clearly was in control of the chamber.”

Wilkins deserves the honor, Edgar wrote, “for his stalwart courage, legislative acumen and superb leadership.”

Smith, the leader of the Democratic Party in the House, wrote that he and Wilkins often disagree on issues, but the speaker “has always led the House in a fair and even-handed manner.

“Those characteristics were on display throughout the Confederate flag debate. The speaker directed the House through an incredibly painful and emotionally divisive debate with honor and dignity.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.