Cameron Judd, director of communications at Tusculum College and author of more than 40 published books of American frontier historical fiction, was presented the Wilma Dykeman Award for 2005 on Sunday, Nov. 6, at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville.

Presenting Judd the award on behalf of the East Tennessee Historical Society was Fred Brown, a long-time writer for the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The presentation was made during the annual Author's Day event at the Knoxville-based ETHS, which spotlights East Tennessee writers. Judd was keynote speaker for the event, talking on the subject of "East Tennessee characters."

The Wilma Dykeman Award is named for noted East Tennessee/North Carolina author Wilma Dykeman, best known for novels including The Tall Woman, The Far Family and Look to This Day. Dykeman also wrote short stories and articles for magazines such as Harper's, New York Times Magazine, and Reader's Digest.

The award document notes: "The Wilma Dykeman Award is given each year to the author whose writing reflects the excellence, heritage, culture and diversity of East Tennessee and who, as an ambassador for the region and for the state, has demonstrated a dedicated commitment to the best interest of the land and the people of East Tennessee."

Several of Judd's historical novels have used frontier East Tennessee or Civil War-era East Tennessee as settings. His historical novels with East Tennessee settings include The Overmountain Men, The Border Men, The Canebrake Men, Crockett of Tennessee, Boone, Passage to Natchez, The Shadow Warriors, The Phantom Legion and Season of Reckoning.

The East Tennessee Historical Society, founded in 1834, is dedicated to promoting the preserving the history and heritage of East Tennessee. Judd is a member of the ETHS Board of Directors.

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