Honorees Tennesseans of the Year 2009 - 2008 - 2007 Hank Williams Jr. 2006 James "Jim" Haslam II 2005 Tennessee Olympians 2004 Avron Fogelman 2003 Gaylord Entertainment Center 2002 101st Airborne Division 2001 Tennessee Olympians 2000 Doug Dickey 1999 Phillip Fulmer 1998 Peyton Manning 1997 Philip Bredesen 1996 Don Sundquist 1995 Vince Gill 1994 Albert Gore Jr. 1993 Cybil Shepherd 1992 John Seigenthaler 1991 Johnny Majors 1990 Ned Ray McWherter 1989 Roy Acuff 1988 Pat Summitt 1987 Stanley Cohen 1986 Lamar Alexander 1985 Tennessee Olympians 1984 Conway Twitty 1983 Jake Butcher 1982 Barbara Mandrell