Tennessee radio and television broadcasters wrapped-up their third consecutive annual convention in Murfreesboro Thursday (8/4/2011) with the special awards luncheon. Each year the organization presents its highest honor to a broadcaster with its Distinguished Service Award. This year you could hear a pin drop as last year's recipient, Engineer Watt Hairston, told of the accomplishments of Jill Green. He said, "For more than 35-years, Jill was the TAB. She was the gentle voice of encouragement for those who called with problems, and the strong persuader of broadcast rights who stood-up against those who tried to weaken electronic communications." 

In late March, she went into the hospital for surgery, but there were serious post operative complications and Jill Green passed away March 26th. In addition to presenting the prestigious Distinguished Service Award posthumously to her family, the state broadcast group also established a broadcast scholarship in her honor at Middle Tennessee State University. 

National Association of Broadcasters Executive Vice President John David was the keynote speaker. Although much of his address dealt with political challenges facing the industry in Washington, he too gave acolades to Green for her years of service.