Ed Adams holds the framed print he received in honor of his selection for the Wallace and Peggy Carroll Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Committee for the New River.

Ed Adams receives a lifetime achievement award from NCNR

Sparta attorney Edmund I. "Ed" Adams recently was awarded the Wallace and Peggy Carroll Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Committee for the New River (NCNR). It was the first time the award had been presented and Adams is the first recipient.

An awards presentation ceremony was held on July 26, but soon afterwards, Adams had a bout with prostate cancer and was at home until recently recovering from the resulting surgery that took place in August. Adams said he is nearly healed after the procedure and is getting back to normal. "I'm thankful to be one of the 50 percent who doesn't have complications from the surgery," he said. "My final visit to the surgeon was at the last of the month. I have good reason to hope that's it."

An urologist found the cancer after high PSA levels were found during a routine checkup at the doctor's office. Adams said he would urge others to have routine screenings. "Thankfully, this was found fairly early on," he said from his office in Sparta, where a large framed print that represents his award from NCNR hangs. While Adams has a few pieces of memorabilia remaining from his work in the "dam fight," most was donated earlier to Appalachian State University for historical preservation purposes.

In presenting the award, NCNR called Adams "a founder and tireless representative." A release from NCNR stated, "Since the 1970s, Adams has been a constant with the organization, serving as a key leader.