The East Tennessee Historical Society’s annual Awards of Excellence were presented at the organization’s Awards Ceremony on June 7 at the Museum of East Tennessee History in Knoxville. Since 1982, the Society has annually recognized individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation, promotion, programming and interpretation of the region’s history. Eleven Knox County initiatives were among the 41 awards presented.
- Steve Cotham was the recipient of a Ramsey Award for Lifetime Achievement. For 35 years, Cotham directed the growth of Knox County Public Library’s Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection. During his tenure, the McClung Collection expanded both in holdings and physical space. For example, during the county’s 200th birthday celebration in 1992, Cotham oversaw the creation of the Knox County Two Centuries Photograph Collection. Cotham is the author of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, published by Arcadia Press (2006). He served as guest curator for the exhibitions Louis E. Jones: Artist of the Smokies (2001) and Mountain Splendor: Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, 1850-1950 (2009), both at the Museum of East Tennessee History.
- Annette Anderson was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Historic Preservation. Anderson was recognized for outstanding efforts as executive director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, for support of numerous projects that promoted East Tennessee’s past, and for a lifetime of tireless advocacy for historic preservation.
- Stephen Dean was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Media. Dean was recognized for preservation and promotion of East Tennessee history, especially through his work on the popular and beloved The Heartland Series, which fostered a lasting awareness and appreciation for the region’s past.
- Don K. Ferguson was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Research & Preservation. Ferguson was recognized for lifelong contributions to the preservation of East Tennessee’s judicial history, for actively working to engage East Tennessee citizens, and for his efforts to document rulings that convey the spirit and culture of East Tennessee.
- Georgiana Vines was the recipient of an Award of Distinction for the book East Tennessee Newsmakers – Where Are They Now, which provides insight into prominent East Tennesseans and their contributions to politics, culture and daily life.
- Dr. Dwight Wade was the recipient of an Award of Distinction for the book Unfinished Journey: Methodism Comes to America, the Tennessee Frontier and to Church Street United Methodist Church, which contributes not only to the understanding of religion but also settlement, enslavement, family history, and the evolution of Methodism in East Tennessee.
- John Romeiser and Jack McCall were the recipients of an Award of Distinction for the book The East Tennessee Veterans Memorial: A Pictorial History of the Names on the Wall, Their Service, and Their Sacrifice, an exhaustive compilation of photographs, documents, and personal recollections that provides insight into the East Tennesseans who served the nation during wartime.
- Joseph Longmire was the recipient of a Community History Award for the promotion of local history in Corryton by way of engaging community tours and student and adult public education.
- Cynthia Tinker was the recipient of a Community History Award for a myriad of efforts to preserve and share East Tennessee’s rich military history through the production of oral and written histories of local veterans.
- WBIR-TV was the recipient of a History in the Media Award for exemplary coverage of the anniversary of the Scarboro 85 and the desegregation of Oak Ridge and Robertsville Junior high schools in 1955.
- Karen Peterman was the recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award for commitment to community engagement and ongoing educational experiences through local history interpretation, teacher workshops, and public and museum programming.