Decades after his passing, a man from western Kentucky is being remembered for his contributions to the civil rights movement.

He captured that time with photographs that tell the story of its impact.

Our Laura Rogers has more.

The city of Owensboro is known for barbecue, bourbon and bluegrass.

Now paying tribute to one of its natives, a figure credited with some of the most influential photographs of the civil rights movement.

Very important man, very important to Owens world.

And I believe everyone should know about should be taught in schools.

He means that orange squirrel can produce some beautiful things and people that can contribute not just to our community, but to the history of our country.

Monita, Sleet Jr worked for Ebony magazine, capturing key moments in history reflected upon today.

It just gives a greater context to what our history books have tried to convey.

In 1969, Sleet won a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of Coretta Scott King at the funeral for her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It humanized the event.

It didn't make it so far removed that because he was just this big icon that showed that he was somebody's husband, he was someone's father.

When we were in leadership Owensboro, we were charged with How do you make Owensboro better?

One of the ways that I thought we could make Owensboro better was to lift up positive stories from our community.

That led to organizing a festival celebrating a man born in Owensboro that rose to professional acclaim, becoming a friend to Dr. King.

He took pictures of those intimate moments.

Drew Hardesty and M.E.

Woosley traveled the country interviewing people most familiar with seats, work, producing a documentary.

As photographers and videographers.

You know, you're kind of the unsung hero.

You stay behind the camera.

You don't get all the recognition.

So and that's fine.

But it was his turn.

It was his time to get his recognition.

Without photojournalists and specifically journalists like Sleet, we would lose some of that history.

That's just so profound and ingrained in our society.

It's important that we learn there's a person behind that photograph.

Several hundred people attended the festival, which also included exhibits, monologues and conversations.

I think it was something very important for our community to see that we can honor African-Americans that have contributed to our community and also to the country.

Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

Sleet passed away from cancer in 1996.

There are plans in Owensboro for a bronze statue to be commissioned in his honor.