Dale Long, circulation director of The Greeneville Sun, was recently awarded The William C. Green, Jr. Service Award by the Southern Circulation Managers Association (SCMA) at the association's annual conference in Baton Rouge, La.

The prestigious award, established in 1995, is made to an individual who is judged to have made an outstanding contribution to SCMA and its members.

SCMA, of which Long is a past president, is a professional organization involving circulation executives from newspapers of all sizes in a six-state region that includes Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Long is the first circulation executive of a small-community newspaper to receive the Green award.

The presentation was made by SCMA President Dean Blanchard of the Advocate newspaper of Baton Rouge.

Long not only directs the Sun's circulation department, but also oversees the varied production operations of this newspaper.

In a statement today, Sun Co-publisher Gregg K. Jones had high praise for Long and his accomplishments, including the recent award.

"We're very proud of Dale," Jones said. "Since he joined the staff of The Greeneville Sun in 1994, he has made a significant contribution to the success of our operations.

"Dale has demonstrated great leadership skills in every effort he has undertaken, so it is no surprise that he has done the same for the SCMA.

"To be recognized with the William C. Green, Jr. Award by that prestigious organization brings credit to him and to The Greeneville Sun."

Active In Community

A long-time participant and leader in the Kiwanis Club of Greeneville, Long is a former president of the organization.

He is also a former member of the board of directors of the United Way of Greene County, and a member of Brown Springs Baptist Church.

Long serves as president of USS Greeneville, Inc., a Greeneville-based support group for the crew of the nuclear submarine named for this community. He is also a member of the local Moose Lodge.

A graduate of West Greene High School, he attended Walters State Community College and is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie course.

In his professional field, he has attended the Inland Press Foundation's Circulation Academy, in Chicago, and has served as a member of the Tennessee Press Association Circulation Committee since 1995.

Long has held many positions in SCMA, including serving as president in 2006-07.

He and his wife, Linda Kay, have one grown daughter, Autumn Malone, a son-in-law, Cody Malone, and a granddaughter, Kylie.