Recognized for Community History Leadership
Mark Tidwell speaks to members of the Lions Club at West End Rec Center back in March in this photo from WLAF’s Charlie Hutson and is shown on the big screen at last week’s East Tennessee Awards of Excellence ceremony at Knoxville.
KNOXVILLE, TN (WLAF)- The fear of an email being a phishing attempt quickly went away when local historian and Jellico Librarian Mark Tidwell opened it. It was a legitimate email of good news, exciting news. Tidwell discovered he and a select few others were going to be honored with a luncheon and awards at the East Tennessee Historical Society’s Awards of Excellence program.
“I was totally unaware of the East Tennessee Awards of Excellence program. Furthermore, I was oblivious to the fact I had been nominated by Clinch River Regional Library Director Matthew Jordan for the Community History Leadership Award,” said Tidwell.
The 2026 Awards of Excellence program celebrates achievements and projects from the East Tennessee history community. A buffet dinner was provided followed by a brief annual meeting of the membership and the awards ceremony. It all took place at the Bilo Nelson Auditorium at the East Tennessee History Center on South Gay Street at Knoxville…