Alive Communications Vice President Lee Hough has been named the recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Christy Award for his contribution to the publishing industry as a literary agent.

Today's announcement by Christy Awards Executive Director Donna Kehoe comes on the heels of news last week that Hough's stage four glioblastoma brain tumor, which he had battled successfully for two years, has spread.

"Lee's quarterly MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) last month was clear, but symptoms flared up recently, and another test two weeks ago indicated that, barring a miracle, he has about two months to live," Alive President Rick Christian said.

Friday, June 14 was Hough's last day at Alive Communications in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he served for more than 12 years.

"We're all devastated by the news because it is difficult to imagine life without Lee's loving, gregarious spirit and beaming smile," Christian said. "By any measure, he's a wonderful human being, best of class. And it gave me great joy to watch him do what he was so gifted at."

Hough's author clients at Alive included Rich Stearns, Terri Blackstock, Randy Singer, Elisa Morgan, Miles McPherson, Vicki Courtney and Lynn Vincent, collaborator on the best-sellers Heaven Is for Real, Same Kind of Different As Me and Going Rogue.

"Seeing him in action always reminded me of the scene in Chariots of Fire when Eric Liddell says he most feels the pleasure of God when he runs," Christian said. "For Lee, that came with being a literary agent, and, as he said in parting with tears, 'I'm finishing well and leave with no regrets.' "

Hough, who turns 58 in July, will be honored during the 14th Annual Christy Awards dinner, Monday, June 24, at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis during the International Christian Retail Show, which runs June 23-26.

Friends of Hough can communicate with him through his CaringBridge.com website by visiting http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/leehough.

For more information on the Christys, visit www.christyawards.com.

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