COBB GALLERIA - She needs no introduction.

The always-smiling lady wearing the stylishly oversized, red glasses who is celebrated for treating everyone with kindness, be they waitresses or nobility, was awarded the fifth annual Legacy Award on Friday.

As Kennesaw State University President Emeritus Dr. Betty Siegel entered the packed Renaissance Waverly Hotel's ballroom, she received a standing ovation from about 450 of Cobb's movers and shakers.

"Oh, my goodness. My heart is full, and I'm so appreciative of these wonderful accolades that come my way, but I must offer a disclaimer: whenever you see a turtle on a post you know it didn't get there by itself," she said, giving a shout-out to her husband, Dr. Joel Siegel, and two sons, Drs. David and Michael Siegel.

Chattahoochee Technical College initiated the Legacy Awards in 2005 by honoring former University of Georgia Football Coach Vince Dooley. The awards went to Cobb Superior Court Senior Judge Conley Ingram and Marietta Daily Journal associate editor Bill Kinney in 2006; to U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-east Cobb) and former Gov. Roy Barnes in 2007; and to Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, last year.

Deane Bonner, president of the Cobb NAACP, called Siegel one of the true pioneers of the county.

"When you deal with Betty Siegel, you know you're dealing with a real person. I think this award today for Dr. Betty Siegel is most fitting, most fitting," Bonner said.

Siegel was the first woman to head a public university in Georgia and the longest-serving woman president of a public university in the nation from 1981 to 2006, taking Kennesaw State from 4,000 students to 18,000.

"If Dr. Betty Siegel had chosen law she'd be sitting on the United States Supreme Court now," remarked Cobb Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford.

From her Siegel Institute at KSU, she works to spread the message of leadership, ethics and character throughout the world in such places as South Africa, China and England.

Joe Daniell, executive vice president of Vinings Bank, spoke of Siegel's famous speaking style, which he said is both profound, but able to reach everyone.

"She just relates to every level and nothing is ever beneath her from the waitresses at the Waffle House to the Archbishop of South Africa. She can relate to everybody and that's why she is so effective with students," Daniell said.

Her passion for work can be traced back to her roots as a coal miner's daughter in the hills of eastern Kentucky. Retired Dickerson Middle School principal Carole Kell, noting how she grew up around the copper mines in north Georgia, spoke of her similar background with Siegel.

"So when I came to Cobb County and I first met Betty I said 'this is my hero, this is the one, a kindred spirit,' and we understand each other - we're both in education," Kell said.

"She is my hero because she exhibits everything that I think is important in a person as far as integrity, character, doing what you believe in and saying what you believe, being supportive to her community," Kell said.

Attorney Fred Bentley Sr., a former state senator and representative, spoke of how Siegel has never forgotten where she came from.

"She has been all over the world. She has appeared before the Queen. She appeared before Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She's been in front of everybody that you think of that's important, but the main thing is that she never has forgotten what started her, and I am proud of her and proud of Joel and proud of her sons because they have made a difference in this world," Bentley said.

Her successor, KSU President Dr. Dan Papp, spoke of Siegel's reputation.

"She is a legend among presidents, not only in Georgia, not only in the Southeast, but nationally as well. She is just a neat lady any way you look at it. Betty helped put Kennesaw on the map," Papp said.

Cobb Schools Superintendent Fred Sanderson said her award says it all.

"She's a legacy in education. I was very fortunate to have her sons in class as a teacher at Wheeler. I've been very fortunate to be with her family for a long time, and she's a magnificent lady," Sanderson said.

Among the hundreds in attendance were Cobb Board of Commissioners Chairman Sam Olens; Kim Gresh of S.A. White Oil Company; Cobb Commissioner Tim Lee; Cobb Superior Court Judge Adele Grubbs; Bob Prillaman, former WellStar Board of Trustees chairman; former Cobb Chamber of Commerce chairmen Fred Bentley Jr and Sam Kelly; Marietta City Councilman Van Pearlberg: former Cobb school board members Laura Searcy, Curt Johnston and Johnny Johnson; Melinda Ashcraft, president of the CTC's foundation; Tana Page of the Georgia Association of Educators; Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle's spokeswoman, Jaillene Hunter; City of Acworth Alderman Bob Weatherford; state Rep. Matt Dollar (R-east Cobb); etiquette teacher Barbara Hickey and Paulding County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Austin.