The Williamsburg Film Festival is pleased to announce that beginning in 2004 we will recognize fans who have contributed much to our hobby. In 2003, one of our most faithful passed way. His name was Edward Wall, and, with the cooperation of his family, we are going to celebrate an outstanding fan in honor of Eddie and the legacy that he left us. We are going to call this award the "Eddie." Following is a short biography of our good friend.

Edward A. Wall, jeweler, Korean War veteran, husband, father and grandfather, loved western movies from childhood. He grew up in Elkin, N.C. The family store was in the same building as the local theater. Edward's uncle ran the theater, so the dreaming boy not only saw all the movies free but also met some of his heroes in the live stage shows, such as Ken Maynard, Wild Bill Elliott and Al "Fuzzy" St. John. Edward grew up but he held on to the old-fashioned values and fun of those films. He kept a photograph of Smiley Burnette and himself in his wallet. No surprise that he became involved with weekend showing of the westerns of which he was so fond. In 1980 he and his friend, film scholar and Radford University instructor John Rutherford, began showing Nickelodeon Films on the first Saturdays in Radford, Va. In 1988 they expanded by showing films on the third Saturdays in Christiansburg as well. "He never met a stranger," Rutherford said, "nor a western film he didn't like." Edward collected 430 of them, along with a myriad of guns, cap pistols and watches. "He loved people and people loved him," noted Rutherford.

Edward A. Wall passed away at age 75. The Williamsburg Film Festival, sponsored by the Williamsburg Classic Film Guild, Inc., wanted to honor non-entertainment people who, over a period of years, helped to perpetuate the legacy of the western film genre -- "People like Eddie."

In honor of Edward Wall, the Williamsburg Film Festival will present the "Eddie Award" annually in honor of Edward A. Wall in celebrationof the things that he admired and the individuals who represent them.

Bill Sasser & John Rutherford

Our First "Eddie" Award was presented to Collector and Film Historian John A. Rutherford at our 2004 Williamsburg Film Festival.

George Coan & Bill Sasser

The recipient of the 2005 "Eddie" Award is George Coan. George heads up the "Saddle Pals", publishes "The Old Cowboy Picture Show" newsletter and promotes monthly showings of b-westerns at the Newberry Opera House in Newberry, South Carolina.

Wayne Short & Bill Sasser

Wayne Short is the 2006 winner of "The Eddie" for his efforts in keeping the "Films of the Golden Age" alive through the Charlottte Western Film Fair.