Rosa Parks, the civil rights icon, passed away on October 24th, 2005 at the age of 92. She was born Rosa Louise McCauley in 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama, and is best known for her refusal to give up her seat on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. This prophetic action of civil disobedience propelled her to become one of the most influential figures in the fight for civil rights. In 1965, Parks became the first woman to be awarded the Martin Luther King Jr./Coretta Scott King Award for Courage from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and in 1996, she was awarded the presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to civil rights. Rosa Parks is remembered for her advocacy for civil rights, her commitment to justice, and her unparalleled vision. Her life continues to shape our society today for the better.