Established in 2011 by the East Tennessee Historical Society Board of Directors, the award periodically recognizes and honors an East Tennessee history maker who is an ambassador for the region and represents integrity, dignity, leadership and the volunteer spirit. The 2021 honoree will be Lamar Alexander, a seventh generation East Tennessean who served as a three-term U.S. senator, the U.S. secretary of education, president of the University of Tennessee and two-term governor of Tennessee. The event includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner and tribute to the featured honoree.