Volunteer of the Year
2023 Volunteer of the Year
Pictured left to right: Presenter Winston Brooks, Executive Director Tullahoma Area Economic Development; Volunteer of the Year Beverly Lee, Colonel, USAF (Retired), Board Member of Tullahoma Area Economic Development
Click to read the full press release.
The Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year Award will be granted to individuals who give of their time and talent to further the economic progress of our state. Their activities and accomplishments in the field of industrial and economic development extend far beyond those necessary to satisfy the requirements of the vocation for which they are compensated.
The award recipient will be honored at the TEDC Annual Fall Conference. The Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year Award is given in memory of our good friend, Jim Spradley.
Jim Spradley began working for the L & N Railroad in 1959. He became the Manager of Industrial Development of the company when it became CSX Transportation in 1979.
While serving in that role, Jim was active in the recruitment of Nissan to Smyrna, TN; Saturn to Spring Hill, TN and Variform Plastics to Jasper, TN.
Along with his involvement with many other economic development projects throughout the state, Jim was also active with the Nashville Area and Tennessee Chambers of Commerce and served as the President of the Nashville Volunteer Chapter of Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity.
The Tennessee Economic Development Council honors Jim’s dedication to economic development each year by awarding the “Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year Award." It is granted to individuals who give of their time and talent to further the economic progress of our state.
Their activities and accomplishments in the field of industrial and economic development extend far beyond those necessary to satisfy the requirements of the vocation for which they are compensated.
Nominations
To Nominate someone for the Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year Award, please download and fill out the form, then email it to Suzie Lusk. Nomination deadline is August 1, 2023
Nomination Application
Past Winners
| 2021 | Lyndi Berrones | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Nashville |
| 2019 | Carolyn Ferrell | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Piney Flats |
| 2018 | Dr. Matthew Murray | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Blount County |
| 2018 | Darrell James | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Dickson County |
| 2018 | Tom Dyer | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Shelby County |
| 2017 | Philip Smartt | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Wilson County |
| 2016 | C. Roger Blackwood | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Robertson County |
| 2015 | Jeff Golden | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Warren County |
| 2014 | Stephen Chambers | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Four Lake |
| 2010 | Charles T. Floyd | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Kingsport |
| 2009 | Ross Tarver | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Cleveland |
| 2008 | Claude Ramsey | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Chattanooga |
| 2007 | Nelson Steed | Jim Spradley Volunteer of the Year | Lebanon |
| 2006 | Pres Lawhon | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Knoxville |
| 2005 | John Hassmiller | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | La Vergne |
| 2003 | Charles Haygood | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Hendersonville |
| 2002 | Richard Swift | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Clarksville |
| 2001 | William Walter | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Columbia |
| 2000 | Russell Gwatney | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Memphis |
| 2000 | Dan Mahoney | Jim Spradley Award | Johnson City |
| 1999 | Larry Elkins | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Rogersville |
| 1998 | Gayle Moyer Harris | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Franklin |
| 1997 | John Willimas | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Jackson |
| 1997 | Dr. R. Michael Browder | Jim Spradley Award | Clarksville |
| 1996 | Terry Leonard | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Greeneville |
| 1996 | Honorable Jimmy Naifeh | Jim Spradley Award | Covington |
| 1995 | Earl Bradley | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Clarksville |
| 1995 | De Witt Ezell | Jim Spradley Award | Nashville |
| 1994 | David Fite | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Jackson |
| 1994 | Honorable Robert Rochelle | Jim Spradley Award | Lebanon |
| 1994 | Honorable Matt Kisber | Jim Spradley Award | Jackson |
| 1994 | Michael E. Magill | Jim Spradley Award | Nashville |
| 1993 | Tom Wheeler | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Cleveland |
| 1992 | Mike Curry | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Pulaski |
| 1991 | Cromer Smotherman | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Lawrenceburg |
| 1990 | Leslie S. Dale | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Memphis |
| 1989 | Halstead "Ted" Meadows, Jr. | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Crossville |
| 1988 | Steve West | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Maryville |
| 1987 | Harold "Hoot" Gibson | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | McKenzie |
| 1986 | L.D. "Don" Pennington | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Dyersburg |
| 1985 | Waymon L. Hickman | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Columbia |
| 1984 | Julian P. Townsend | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Jackson |
| 1983 | William R. Brakebil | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Athens |
| 1982 | R. Jack Fishman | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Morristown |
| 1981 | Dan Buckner | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Dickson |
| 1980 | Gene Record | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Henderson |
| 1979 | Curtis S. Lowery | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Brownsville |
| 1978 | Fred R. Lawson | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Maryville |
| 1977 | William S. Lawrence | TIDC Volunteer of the Year | Jackson |
