This year’s recipient of the David E. Laird, Sr. Memorial Award is Matthew W. Sawyer, CEO of Bennett’s Creek Wholesale Nursery, Suffolk, VA. Born in Portsmouth, VA, Matthew attended Nansemond Suffolk Academy and Averet University, Danville, VA. He began working at the family nursery in 1994 at the age of 13, and held the position of VP of Operations from 2007 to 2015, until his father’s (Wayne Sawyer) untimely passing in 2015 when he stepped into the role of CEO.

Matthew has served on the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association board from 2007 to 2014, and served as President in 2013. He served as Chair of the Virginia Nursery Association Horticulture Research Foundation (2007-2013) and coordinated the annual Research Gala Auction increasing the endowment from $630,000 to $698,000 while still funding over $215,000 in grants.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys photography, aviation, drums and music, as well as beer brewing and growing his own hops. He and his wife Melanie are expecting their first child (a daughter). 

In 1975, he and his father, Gene Smith, developed and pioneered the industry’s first large poly growing container, and started Hercules Nursery Containers, Inc. Their first poly containers were specifically designed for specimen and interior trees. In 1995, Hercules Nursery Containers merged with IEM Plastics, which was subsequently purchased by the Lerio Corporation.  Howard worked with the Lerio Corporation and Nursery Supplies until 2003, when he joined Haviland Plastic Products as Regional Sales Manager for the Southern Tier of States to assist the Haviland family in their innovations.

Howard served on FNGLA’s Florida East Coast Chapter Board of Directors from 1978-1982, and has been active in SNA’s Disaster Relief Team since 2004. 

“I take great pride in promoting HPPs environmental accomplishments utilizing recycled plastics and producing the majority of our energy from renewable sources. I have enjoyed working with growers and their teams over the past four decades developing better ways to green the planet, and I am proud to say that many close personal relationships have been developed over the years with such a wonderful cadre of people,” Smith said.

His hobbies include traveling, photography, boating, golfing, entertaining, coin collecting, and NASCAR. He and his wife of 40 years, Roben, reside in Daytona Beach with their toy poodle, Cinnamon.

2016 Don Shadow Award of Excellence
Dr. Michael Dirr

The Don Shadow Award of Excellence, named for the first recipient, Don O. Shadow, Shadow Nursery, Winchester, TN, is presented to an individual, corporation or organization that has provided exemplary service, leadership and generosity in the development, promotion and use of new and improved landscape plants. Recipients must demonstrate a sincere commitment to and passion for expanding knowledge and use of new and improved plants for the landscape. Nominations are accepted from attendees of the Southern Plant Conference and SNA Members. Nominees may be carried forward from one year to the next. Selection is made by the SNA Board of Directors.

The 2016 recipient of the Don Shadow Award of Excellence is Dr. Michael A. Dirr. Retired Professor, University of Georgia, world renowned plant breeder and evangelist, author and speaker.

Dirr earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Horticulture from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D in Plant Physiology from the University of Massachusetts. Upon graduation from the University of Massachusetts, Dirr was an Associate Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Illinois, Urbana, where he continued to work until 1978. He then became a Mercer Fellow at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University through 1979. In 1979, he became the Director of the University of Georgia Botanical Garden. In 1981, he returned to teaching and research at the University of Georgia and was promoted to Professor in 1984.

From 1981 to 2007 Dr. Dirr fostered the University of Georgia Plant Introduction program, a program widely emulated by other universities. His program has contributed more than 100 new plants to the industry, with 13 patents. In October of 2003 Dr. Dirr officially retired from the University of Georgia and as a tribute to his many contributions to the plant world, the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia established the Michael A. Dirr Endowed Professorship for Woody Plant Instruction and Introduction. The endowment will insure that future faculty members will embody the commitment to teaching, research and woody plant introduction exemplified by Dr. Dirr.

Dr. Dirr’s influence in horticulture is far reaching. From landscape and nursery industry professionals to the home gardener, his teaching and research have impacted the way we interact with woody landscape plants. He has published more than 300 scientific and popular publications, and has authored 12 books. His book, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture and Propagation and Uses is one of the most widely adopted reference text in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture education. It has sold over 500,000 copies.

Dr. Michael Dirr continues his quest to bring only the most outstanding plants to market. He is a founding partner of Plant Introductions, Inc. PII breeds, evaluates and introduces new woody and herbaceous plants for the nursery industry. The companyʼs new breeding, propagation, production and testing facilities are located in Watkinsville, GA. 

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