This past Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Keith Richards, the English-born guitarist of the Rolling Stones, received Connecticut’s inaugural Governor’s Award of Excellence at a ceremony held at the Westport Library. The award goes to Richards for his "contributions to the cultural and civic landscape of Connecticut", where he has resided since the early '90s, after moving his family to Weston.

Connecticut's First Lady Ann Lamont presented Richards with the award, after which he gave a speech:

“I’d like to say thank you to you all, and thank you to the state of Connecticut. You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. I’ve been here for 40 years, and it’s been a great place for me. I brought the kids up here. When the kids were young, I said, I have to get the kids out of New York City before they don’t get any fresh air at all. So, we moved up here, and ever since, we’ve had a great life. … I’m incredibly happy about everything, especially things like this, because you don’t get them every day.

This is a great building, a wonderful library, which even I didn’t know the full extent of. As Bill was saying earlier, without our books, without knowing things, without knowing their special meaning — this isn’t movies, this is not someone drawing you images. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. It’s very important that we keep our books unburnt.”

Also, Governor Ned Lamont presented Richards with a "Key to the State" and a Westport Library card.

The governor acknowledged:

“I’ve been inspired by the Rolling Stones for more than 50 years, I hope you have as well. Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community. We’re so proud that he’s here and I’m so proud to have the opportunity to give him this award of excellence.”