Bill Landry to speak in Newport

Bill Landry has been the voice, host/narrator, and co-producer of The Heartland Series since it was conceived on WBIR-TV, Channel 10 in 1984, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This year marks the 25th. year of “The Heartland Series. Since it began, over 1,900 short features have been produced, including over 150 half-hour specials. The program, which started as a series of five-minute features about the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains, continues to celebrate the people and the land of the entire Appalachian region. Bill has written and directed many of the episodes.

In 1999, Bill received an Emmy Award for directing and an honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree from Lincoln Memorial University. In 2000, he received the “Education in Appalachia” award from Carson Newman College, and his second Emmy Award in directing.

Bill’s recent work, “William Bartram – An Unlikely Explorer” is being presented in 2009, and he continues to speak regularly, ‘Untold Heartland Tales - Told Again!,” and on the people and the land of the Appalachian region.

On September 20, 2009 Bill Landry will be speaking at Newport Presbyterian Church at 9:30 AM. The public is welcome, admission is free. More information is available at www.NewportPresbyterianChurch.org.