MIDDLE TENNESSEE DAFFODIL SOCIETY HISTORY

The Middle Tennessee Daffodil Society was organized on April 5, 1958. This was four years after the American Daffodil Society was organized on April 9, 1954 in Washington, D.C. Louise Linton Hardison, along with Mary Cartwright,  attended the 1957 ADS convention in Ohio, which inspired her to organize the MTDS. Louise Linton Hardison was the first MTDS president. Other founding members included Mary Cartwright, Margaret Cosner, Dan Eadie, Sam Caldwell and Clarence Connell.

 

The Middle Tennessee Daffodil Society would like to gratefully acknowledge the past growers and former members of our society who were instrumental in the growth and perseverance of the society. Those individuals, who over the years, encouraged many of the current members to fall in love with showing and growing daffodils. Members to whom we owe our gratitude include Louis Linton Hardison, Clarence Connell, Dan Eadie, Sam Caldwell, Pat Lee, Alice Wray Taylor, Kitty Frank, Billy Hobby, Pat Bates, Martha Gaines, Becky Talbot, Sue Thomas, Edna Metcalfe, Dot Allen and Arlene Ziegler.

 

Past Presidents of MTDS

1958 - 1960     Louise Linton Hardison

1966 – 1970    Mary Cartwright                      

1976 – 1978    Kitty Frank                              

1978 – 1980    Ted Snazelle                            

1980 – 1982    Becky Talbot                           

1982 – 1984    Betty McEachern                     

1984                Mary Lou Gripshover              

1984 – 1986    Dick Frank                              

1986 - 1988     Alice Wray Taylor                   

1988 - 1990     Sue Zapp                               

1990 - 1992     Sam Winters

1992 - 1994     Mary Cartwright

1994 - 1996     Mary Cartwright

1996 - 1998     Sam Winters

1998 - 2000     Dick Frank

2000 - 2002     Patrice Winters

2002 - 2004     Ann McKinney

2004 - 2006     Becky Fox Matthews

2006 - 2008     Ann McKinney

2009 - 2011     Anne Owen & Susan Basham

2011 - present Jeff and Jennifer Harvey

 

MTDS members who are past American Daffodil Society Silver Medal Winners.
The Silver Medal is given for exceptional service to the American Daffodil Society.

1981 - Louise Hardison - a founder and the first president of MTDS. She was ADS membership chairman from 1958-1961. She was a superb exhibitor and instructor. Her daffodils now bloom in the Louise Hardison Garden at Cheekwood.

1991 - Kitty Frank - a past editor of The Daffodil Journal from 1986-1994. She was president of MTDS from 1976-1978 and was co-chairman of the 1993 ADS convention held in Nashville. Kitty was an outstanding judge, exhibitor and coordinated the Louise Hardison Garden at Cheekwood.

1999 - Dick Frank - a leading member of the MTDS for many years, exhibiting, judging and has worked as a judging instructor to add new judges to the Nashville area. Dick was president of MTDS from 1984-1986 and again from 1998-2000. He was co-chairman of the ADS convention in Nashville in 1993. He has also been the ADS Legal Counsel for more than 30 years.

 

Monumental moments involving the MTDS in American Daffodil Society history:

1958 - Founding of the MTDS, with 112 members

1958 - First MTDS show

judged by George Lee, second ADS president

10 Quinn entries

 

1962 - ADS Convention held in Nashville

attended by 200 people

the first Judging School III was offered

         

1969 - ADS Convention held in Nashville

          First Quinn Gold Medal awarded to Harry Tuggle

 

1982 - ADS Convention held in Nashville

          Throckmorton Ribbon awarded for the first time

 

1993 - ADS Convention held in Nashville

          Miniature Bronze Award offered for the first time

 

In 2005, MTDS added two new sections to our annual show to encourage participation by members of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and Master Gardeners. These sections have awards for best standard and best miniature entries.A design section was also added in 2005 to add beauty and interest to the show. There were four different classes offered in the design section.

 

In 2008, MTDS added a photography exhibit for the added enjoyment of our show patrons. There were four classes in the section to include: Daffodils in Nature or in the Landscape, Portraits of Daffodils, Daffodils and People and Animals, and Abstract or Special Effects Celebrating Daffodils.  

 

2008 - ADS Fall Board Meeting and Miniatures Symposium held in Nashville

 

2012 - ADS Fall Board Meeting and Symposium "The Future of Daffodils" held in Nashville

 

 

Co-Presidents                          Jeff and Jennifer Harvey

Treasurer                                 Ann McKinney

Membership Chairman            Byron Dumas

Show Chairman                      Becky Fox Matthews and Anne Owen

Design Section Chairman        Anne Owen

Staging Chairman                    Susan and Ray Basham

Judges Chairman                     Ann McKinney

Clerks Chairman                      Anne Owen

 

MTDS MEMBERS WHO ARE OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN DAFFODIL SOCIETY 

Dick Frank                                 ADS Legal Counsel

Becky Fox Matthews                 ADS President

Andrew Buhler                           ADS Southeast Regional Director