Awards of the Knoxville Bar Association
... for the distinction and honor brought to the profession by enduring, faithful and distinguished service in this community.

Governors' Award Recipients

1988  Robert R. Campbell
1989  Foster D. Arnett
1990  Erma Greenwood
1991  George W. Morton, Jr.
1992  Bernard E. Bernstein
1993  Donald F. Paine
1994  Arthur D. Byrne
1995  Lindsay Young
1996  Arthur Seymour
1997  Robert W. Ritchie
1998  Warren W. Kennerly
1999  Richard Stair Sr.
2000  Jack B. Draper
2001  E.H. Rayson
2002  W. Thomas Dillard
2003  Fred H. Cagle, Jr.
2004  Joe R. Haynes
2005  Robert R. Crossley, Jr.
2006  Robert E. Pryor
2007  Howard H. Vogel
         William D. Vines, III
2008  Pamela L. Reeves
2009  E. Bruce Foster, Jr.
2010  Robert P. Murrian
2011  Randall E. Nichols
2012  Thomas M. Hale
2013  John T. O'Connor II
2014  Sarah Y. Sheppeard
2015  Dennis McClane
2016  Mark Stephens
2017  Penny White
2018  Adrienne Anderson
2019  Thomas S. Scott Jr.
2020  Dwight E. Tarwater
2021  Charles W. Swanson
2022  Beth Ford

From the minutes of the October, 1988 Minutes of the KBA Board of Governors:

First Annual Governors' Award
KBA Past President, William D. Vines, III, Chairman of the Governors' Award Committee, assumed the podium and addressed the membership.  Mr. Vines explained that in recent years the KBA has not had an appropriate vehicle to express its appreciation to those attorneys who have consistently and generously served the KBA as well as the Knoxville community.  Accordingly, Mr. Vines reported that a new tradition was being implemented whereby special recognition would be given by the KBA Board of Governors to a deserving member on an annual basis, which recognition would constitute the highest award of the Knoxville Bar Association.  Mr. Vines explained that the Governors' Award would be represented by a plaque and Mr. Vines proceeded to read the inscription on the plaque which would memorialize the KBA Governors' Award.

Inscription on plaque:

The Governors' Award is hereby conferred upon (NAME) By the Knoxville Bar Association for the distinction and honor brought to the profession by enduring, faithful and distinguished service in this community.