2005 ~ Ed Benson, Executive Director of the Country Music Association.  Mr. Benson graduated from Madison High School in 1963.  He then attended and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1967.  He served three (3) years in the Army thereafter including a tour in Vietnam.

In 1970, Mr. Benson joined Benson Publishing Company which was started by his grandfather, John T. Benson, in 1902.  Benson Publishing Company was Nashville's first independent, non-denominational music publishing company.

Mr. Benson left Benson Company in 1978, and joined the Country Music Association a year later as its first Associate Executive Director.  He remained in that position until he was named Executive Director in 1992.

As Executive Director, Mr. Benson serves as spokesperson for the Country Music industry.  He also is integrally involved in the production of the CMA awards and the CMA Music Festival, the organization's major annual events.

He has served industry and the community in various capacities as a member of The Recording Academy, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Popular Music, Copyright Society of the South, the American Society of Association Executives and Who's Who Worldwide.  He is an alumnus of both Leadership Nashville and Leadership Music.

Mr. Benson is married to Jamie Parks Benson.  He has one (1) child, Edwin Benson.

2006 ~ Gilda Bunch York (1979) ~ Gilda was selected for her work in community. She created the Ambassador Program in which storeowners turn in hours of service from students that work for them. These hours are turned into the Ambassador Program to help students with prom attire in which they could not have afforded. The program works with students from all of the Nashville area.   

2007 ~ Kay Sanford (1970) ~   Kay's education and work history:  B.S. from Belmont University; MEd Middle Tennessee State University; EdS. Middle Tennessee State University;  32 years with Metropolitan Nashville School System. Kay has worked 10 years as a teacher and 14 years as a principal as well as eight years as

Executive Director for Human Resources, where she hires approximately 600 teachers per year for MNPS.  Kay has one daughter, Kate, who is married to Patrick Witherington.  Kay's current position is Executive Director for Pre K-4 with the Human Resources Department Metro Nashville Public Schools