The publication was cited for its support of the senior agency and its role in providing news of the area's rapidly growing senior population.

Senior Citizens Inc. has awarded its Al Henderson Memorial Senior Service Award to Coastal Senior.

"Coastal Senior has long been an advocate of the programs and projects of Senior Citizens and we appreciate the generosity and support the newspaper has given us for many years," said Patti Lyons, president of Senior Citizens Inc., when she presented the award to Coastal Senior Managing Editor Tim Rutherford on Aug. 17.

The Al Henderson Award is given annually to organizations that have a long history of either supporting Senior Citizens or its programs. It is named in honor of the late Al Henderson, past president of Senior Citizens. Past recipients include Savannah Electric and Power Co., the Junior League and Union Camp.

Coastal Senior is a monthly publication of the Savannah Morning News.

"It is an honor to be recognized by an organization like Senior Citizens," Rutherford said. "The agency celebrate the rich resource we have in our senior community, serve those who genuinely need help and, in general, work to make seniors feel better about themselves."

Henderson's widow, Hazel, and his sons, Al Jr. and John, attended the event, held in the lobby of the Savannah Morning News.

Coastal Senior was founded in February 1994 and became part of the Savannah Morning News in March 1999, along with its sister publication, Coastal Antiques & Art.

The publication has grown substantially in circulation under the Morning News and, earlier this year, a South Carolina edition of Coastal Senior was launched to serve Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Jasper County. Its Web site is www.coastalsenior.com.