NASHVILLE (AP) - The city of Nashville and a victims' rights group have honored John Seigenthaler, chairman emeritus of The Tennessean, for his lifelong commitment to victims' causes.

The city of Nashville renamed the downtown Shelby Avenue pedestrian bridge that spans the Cumberland for Seigenthaler, who prevented a suicidal man from jumping off the bridge 60 years ago, when he was a Tennessean reporter.

After the bridge naming ceremony, victims' rights group You Have the Power gave Seigenthaler its 2014 Powerhouse Award to reflect his "humanitarian efforts to address inequalities and unite people and communities."

Seigenthaler, 86, received the honors Tuesday evening.

Seigenthaler worked as a reporter, editor and publisher at The Tennessean. He also worked for President John F. Kennedy's administration to protect Freedom Riders during the Civil Right movement. He helped launch USA Today before founding the John Seigenthaler First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University.