Miss Richfield 1981 is being embraced by her namesake

What started out on a lark and with a wink has turned into something that may not yet be an institution, but is pretty significant.

Miss Richfield 1981, the onstage

alter-ego that performer Russ King first unveiled at a Miss America pageant party in 1995, then took to the Gay 90s, Bryant-Bowl and beyond, is now being celebrated by the namesake city itself. On Tuesday, the Richfield Human Rights Commission gave King and Miss Richfield its 2015 Gene and Mary Jacobsen Outstanding Citizen Award.

In full regalia, Miss Richfield flew in from the East Coast to accept the honor, given for her work in advancing human rights in Richfield and for the attention that the character has drawn to the suburban city south of Minneapolis.

Miss Richfield then flew back East to continue that work. She had gigs in New York, and in Provincetown.

"For me it's flattering and an honor, but this award says a lot about Richfield, which is quite progressive, and about the world has changed," said King from an airport Thursday morning. "I was just doing something for fun, and now to have it full circle like this, that's really gratifying."

The award was presented at a Richfield City Council meeting.

"The work that she's done in the community with AIDS awareness and gay rights issues is quite commendable," said council member Edwina Garcia. "Plus, she has such a great heart. When she chose that name, Miss Richfield, she showed her pride and loyalty to the community. She is well-deserving."