First established in 2009, the Thad Cochran Humanities Achievement Award honors the late Senator Thad Cochran, long-time Republican Senator for Mississippi, for his support and tireless efforts on behalf of the humanities in Mississippi. He was a driving force in supporting the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Mississippi Humanities Council, and the Mississippi Arts Commission. He was instrumental in the success of the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration from its inception and was always an active member of our steering committee.
Each year, the co-chairman and her awards committee choose a worthy candidate from the state of Mississippi who, like Senator Cochran, has dedicated years of time, talent, and expertise to the field of humanities in Mississippi and the surrounding region. Traditionally, the award is presented publicly at the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration each February and appears on the conference agenda.
Past recipients:
- 2024: Duncan Morgan
- 2023: Mimi Miller
- 2022: Kathleen Bond
- 2021: Dr. Billy B. Thames
- 2020: Dr. Ann J. Abadie
- 2019: Dr. John F. Marszalek
- 2018: Dr. David Sansing and Dr. John D.W. Guice
- 2017: Elbert R. Hilliard
- 2016: Carolyn Vance Smith
- 2015: James F. Barnett, Jr.
- 2014: Barbara Carpenter
- 2013: Cora Norman
- 2012: Alferdteen Harrison
- 2011: Richard Howorth
- 2010: Jerry W. Ward, Jr.
- 2009: G. Mark LaFrancis
