Celebration Speech Read on August 23, 2014

The Celebration, in conjunction with the family of the late Evan Lloyd Adamson are proud to present one of our most prestigious awards.

The Evan Lloyd Adamson Humanitarian Award is named in honor of the former Celebration Ringmaster, Association Member, and Director.

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 winner will have their name inscribed on a plaque in the main Celebration office listing all the winners as well as a cash honorarium. 

The Celebration and the Adamson Family are proud to announce that the 2014 winner of this award is Mr. Franklin Smith, a long-time member of the Shelbyville Breakfast Rotary Club and Boy Scout Troop Leader.

Franklin Smith served his community in his working career with the Shelbyville Fire Department for 41 years. In his career, he spent many days and nights on duty, here at the celebration grounds. In addition to his duties of fighting fires, Franklin was also very active in repairing toys for children at Christmas and delivering boxes of food to needy families.

In 1969 he began serving the youth of our community through the Scouting program, as a leader for his son’s troop. He continues today as a leader with BSA Troop 370. In those 45 plus years of service, he and the scouts have provided countless hours of community service. You may have seen them in the center ring presenting the colors with the United States flag.

He has been a member of the Breakfast Rotary for approximately 27 years and has served actively in their Celebration food booth for most of those years.

Franklin served his country in the military for 7 years with the Army and National Guard.  He has been an active member of the American Legion Post 23 for the past 5 yrs. You may have seen him in the American Legion food booth tonight, along with some of his scouts.

He is a long time member of Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church, where he has served as a deacon and in the children’s bus ministry for many years.

Franklin has been married for 57 years to his wife Mildred. They have a daughter, Kathy, a son, Keith, five grandchildren, and a great granddaughter due in October.

Joining him tonight to accept the award is Franklin’s daughter Kathy and her husband Ronnie, along with his grandchildren Ron, Ryan and Livvie. 

Making the presentation on behalf of the Adamson family is John Adamson, son of the late Evan Lloyd Adamson along with Celebration Director Rick Insell.

Ladies and Gentleman, Franklin Smith is just one of many who consistently go above and beyond to make The Celebration® special.