SNA Announces 2016 Award Winners
The Southern Nursery Association (SNA) has announced the recipients of the 2016 SNA Awards. The awards were presented at the 118th Annual SNA Business Meeting on Thurs., Sep. 1, at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia during SEGreen.
This first award, considered a lifetime achievement award, was named the Slater Wight Memorial Award in memory of the late J. Slater Wight, brother of the late John B. Wight, Sr. Nomination. Selection is made by the SNA board of directors.
This year’s recipient of the Slater Wight Memorial Award is Eelco Henry Tinga, Jr. of Tinga Nursery, Castle Hayne, North Carolina.
Established in 1974 by David E. Laird, Jr., in memory of his father, SNA past president David E. Laird, Sr., this award is presented each year to recognize qualified young men and women for outstanding service in the field of environmental horticulture and to offer inspiration for others starting out in the field. The recipient must be 39 years of age or younger and must be a member of his/her state nursery association. Nominations are made by the State Associations within the SNA region with final selection by the SNA Board of Directors.
This year’s recipient of the David E. Laird, Sr. Memorial Award is Matthew W. Sawyer, CEO of Bennett’s Creek Wholesale Nursery, Smithfield, Virginia.
Established by the SNA Board in 1992, the SNA Pinnacle Award is given to the individual within the allied industry who, in the opinion of the SNA Board, has contributed most to the advancement of the industry in the south and to the welfare of the Southern Nursery Association. This award is limited to SNA members. Nomination and selection of recipients is made by the SNA Board of Directors.
This year’s recipient of the SNA Pinnacle Award is Howard Smith of Haviland Plastics Products.
Established by the SNA Board in 1999, the SNA Environmental Award recognizes individuals and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and through their voluntary efforts exemplified inspiration, vision, innovation, leadership and action to preserve and protect the environment. This award is not limited to SNA members or to the horticulture industry. Nominations for this prestigious award are made by the SNA participating state associations and SNA members with final selection by the SNA board of directors.
This year’s recipients of the SNA Environmental Award is Tim Thoms, Thoms Trees and Plants, Fayetteville, Georgia.
In 1969, an Award of Merit was created to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to ornamental horticultural research and, more specifically, to SNA. In 1972, the SNA board of directors resolved that the Award of Merit would be renamed the Porter Henegar Memorial Award for Horticultural Research in memory of the late Porter Henegar, past executive secretary of SNA (1959-1972), to commemorate his years of tireless effort and service to the SNA. The recipient is selected annually by fellow research workers for his/her concern and work toward improving the nursery industry.
The recipient of the 2016 Porter Henegar Memorial Award is Dr. John Lea-Cox, Professor and Nursery Research and Extension Specialist at the University of Maryland, College Park where he teaches courses in principles of water and nutrient management, greenhouse crop production and co-teaches senior capstone and sustainable seminar courses.
The Don Shadow Award of Excellence, named for the first recipient, Don O. Shadow, Shadow Nursery, Winchester, Tennessee, is presented to an individual, corporation or organization that has provided exemplary service, leadership and generosity in the development, promotion and use of new and improved landscape plants. Recipients must demonstrate a sincere commitment to and passion for expanding knowledge and use of new and improved plants for the landscape. Nominations are accepted from attendees of the Southern Plant Conference and SNA members. Nominees may be carried forward from one year to the next. Selection is made by the SNA board of directors.
The 2016 recipient of the Don Shadow Award of Excellence is Dr. Michael A. Dirr. retired professor, University of Georgia, world renowned plant breeder and evangelist, author and speaker.
The SNA Board of Directors also honors individuals that have served this association and the nursery industry in various capacities throughout the years and have made outstanding contributions during their active participation in the Southern Nursery Association with honorary membership awards. This year, three deserving industry members (Ted Stephens, Marc Teffeau, and Tom Yeager, ) received SNA Honorary Member Awards. Each recipient has made outstanding contributions to the association and the industry during their active participation in the Southern Nursery Association.
- Ted Stephens, Nurseries Caroliniana; North Augusta, South Carolina
- K. Marc Teffeau, former ANLA director of horticultural research and HRI; Canton, Georgia
- Dr. Tom Yeager, professor, environmental horticulture, University of Florida, IFAS; Gainesville, Florida
For more information, visit www.sna.org.
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