Edward John Meeman (1889-1966) received the state/regional level Pugsley Medal in 1963. He was a newspaperman and a conservationist who was born in Evansville, Indiana. Immediately after graduation from Evansville High School in 1904, he took a job as a cub reporter with the Evansville Press, which had been started by the Scripps organization. He intended to earn money so that he could go to college, but he became so fascinated with newspaper work that he never did go to college. He helped to establish the young newspaper and eventually became its managing editor. After 14 years working at the Indiana newspaper, he moved to Tennessee, where he was to spend another 45 years in newspaper work. It was an expansion period of The Scripps-Howard newspapers when he was invited in 1921 by Robert Scripps to go to Knoxville, Tennessee, to start a newspaper, The Knoxville News.
The venture was successful, and the News bought its competitor, The News-Sentinel, in 1926, whereupon Meeman became editor of the combined newspaper, The News-Sentinel, in 1926. In 1926.Thus, he initiated and brought to fruition a project that created Shelby Forest State Park, a natural forest area of 12,500 acres located only eight miles from the city limits of Memphis. Subsequently, he lived on a farm abutting the Shelby Forest. After his death this park was renamed Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in his honor.He also lent his support to the City Beautiful Commission in its efforts to beautify the city. He helped organize the Friends of the Land and the Wolf River Watershed Associations. His paper for many years conducted an annual SOS, “Save Our Soil” contest, which encouraged and rewarded the conservation efforts of farmers who engaged in better agricultural practices throughout the Mid-South area.