Background
The Regional Suicide Prevention Awards were established by TSPN co-founders Madge and Ken Tullis to recognize innovations and excellence in Tennessee’s suicide prevention awareness movement.
Each year, TSPN’s eight regional networks take nominations for their Regional Suicide Prevention Award who is usually recognized at that year’s local Suicide Prevention Awareness Month event. One of the Regional Suicide Prevention Award winners receives the statewide Madge and Ken Tullis, MD, Suicide Prevention Award. The recipient of the award is recognized at the Suicide Prevention Awareness Day event and receives a plaque recognizing their contributions to suicide prevention and awareness. A donation is made to TSPN by Madge and Ken Tullis in honor of the recipient, and the recipient’s name is added to a plaque listing previous winners, currently displayed at the TSPN central office.
Nomination Process and Eligibility
- Individuals from each TSPN region may send nominations for their Regional Suicide Prevention Award to the TSPN central office by e-mail ([email protected]) or fax ((615) 269-5413) ahead of that year’s regional deadline.
- The recipient must be a single person or couple (including two people working on a single project) residing in the state of Tennessee.
- Madge and Ken Tullis, TSPN/TLC employees, and prior winners of Regional Suicide Prevention Awards are not eligible.
Past Winners of the Regional Suicide Prevention Award
(Winners of the Madge and Ken Tullis, MD, Suicide Prevention Awards in gold)
2005
East Tennessee: David M. Gilliam, MD
Mid-Cumberland: Judith J. Johnson
Memphis/Shelby County: Bishop William Young and Pastor Dianne Young
Northeast: Elizabeth Haren
Rural West: Lisa Daniel
South Central: Brad Martin
Southeast: Sam Bernard
Upper Cumberland: Linda Moran
2006
East Tennessee: Anna Irwin and Linda Albert
Mid-Cumberland: Gwen Hamer
Memphis/Shelby County: Kathleen Grice
Northeast: Patrolman Ed Jeffries, Tennessee Highway Patrol (retired)
Rural West: Stephenie Robb
South Central: Jennifer Harris
Southeast: Betsy Donahue
Upper Cumberland: Lisa Stewart
2007
East Tennessee: Major Greg Cook, Maryville Police Department; Officer Holly Hatcher, Alcoa Police Department; and Deputy Jennifer Shudan, Blount County Sheriff’s Office
Mid-Cumberland: Kim Rush
Memphis/Shelby County: Shirley McGowan
Northeast: Bill and Phyllis Russell
Rural West: Carol Burroughs
South Central: Pam Arnell
Southeast: Cindy McCroskey
Upper Cumberland: Angel Smithers
2008
East Tennessee: Laura T. Harrill
Mid-Cumberland: Natasha Clay
Memphis/Shelby County: Sam Cochran
Northeast: Diane Wise
Rural West: Sid Nichols
South Central: Junior Auxiliary of Columbia, Tennessee
Southeast: Mary Fortune
Upper Cumberland: Jodi Barlett, Supervisor of the Crisis Team at Plateau Mental Health Center (PMHC), and the PMHC Crisis Team
2009
East Tennessee: Larry and Linda Drain
Mid-Cumberland: Misty Yarbrough
Memphis/Shelby County: Sally Afflick
Northeast: Harold Leonard
Rural West: Dana Cobb
South Central: Karyl Chastain Beal
Southeast: Tim Tatum
Upper Cumberland: Patsy Cronk and Jean Key
2010
East Tennessee: Anne Young
Mid-Cumberland: Granger Brown
Memphis/Shelby County: Mike LaBonte
Northeast: Paula Masters
Rural West: Anne Henning-Rowan
South Central: Rosa Newton
Southeast: Karen Brasher
Upper Cumberland: Anne Stamps
2011
East Tennessee: Ben Harrington
Memphis/Shelby County: Pat Kendall
Mid-Cumberland: Brenda Harper
Northeast: Linda Phipps Harold
Rural West: Shelia Ward
South Central: Elaine Williams
Southeast: Nancy Carroll
Upper Cumberland: Vickie Bilbrey
