SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is happy to announce that the plaque honoring the newly-created E.L. Adamson Humanitarian Award has found its permanent home in Celebration’s Executive Office Building.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated "outstanding service and commitment" to The Celebration. The person honored will be a volunteer, Celebration staff member, or staff member of an organization supporting The Celebration.

The inaugural award winner was long-time VFW member Buford Womble. Mr. Womble has been a volunteer worker in the VFW Food Booth for nearly 30 years.

"We’re extremely happy that we have the permanent display for this wonderful award," said Celebration CEO Ron Thomas. "The spirit of the award and that of our first winner have been very well received."

The award is named in honor of Evan Lloyd Adamson, who was active in Celebration affairs for over 47 years, until his death in 1986. He served as the only Ringmaster for the Celebration for the first few years of the horse show’s tenure and was a member of the center ring staff for a quarter-century.

He became a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association and later served as a member of the Celebration Board of Directors. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

"The Celebration meant so much to my father and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of our entire family," said John Adamson. "We were extremely proud to make the first presentation at last year’s show and the new plaque is truly breathtaking."

His love for the Celebration was known throughout the community and region. He had no hobbies other than being a volunteer and supporter for the Celebration. In the early years, he participated in the Ride-A-Thons and helped promote the local Celebration Parades held annually.

In 1983, Evan Lloyd Adamson was made a Director Emeritus of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In addition to his work with the Celebration, Mr. Adamson was active in the affairs of the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the United Way and the USO.

He was a board member of the American Red Cross and the Shelbyville School System. He was an active member of the Shelbyville Rotary Club for over 55 years. He was a member and Ruling Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville.

A native of Nashville, Evan Lloyd attended Tate School in Shelbyville and Vanderbilt University. He was married to the former Margaret Cowan of Shelbyville in 1929 and moved to Shelbyville in 1930 when he became a member of the insurance firm of H.B. Cowan & Co. of which he later became the owner.

Evan Lloyd had one daughter, Mrs. Mary Spragins, deceased; two sons Evan Lloyd Adamson, Jr. of Houston, TX and John C. Adamson of Memphis, TN, nine grandchildren, 16great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.