Loyal Jones' book "Faith and Meaning in the Southern Uplands" has been awarded Berea College's W.D. Weatherford Award for outstanding writing about Appalachia in 1999.

The award, sponsored by the College's Appalachian Center and Hutchins Library, was announced today during a luncheon program at Boone Tavern Hotel. Dr. Gordon McKinney, Appalachian Center director, made the award presentation.

The writing prize is named for the late W.D. Weatherford Sr., a pioneer in Appalachian development, youth work and race relations. Since 1997, the award also has honored the memory of his son, Willis Weatherford, Jr., who was Berea College's president from 1967-84. It recognizes a work of fiction or non-fiction published anywhere in the U.S. that illuminates the problems, personalities and unique qualities of the Appalachian South.

Also honored at the luncheon with Special Awards for lifetime achievement in Appalachian writing and publishing were Sidney Saylor Farr, poet, author of six books and editor of "Appalachian Heritage" magazine for 15 years, and Dr. Jerry W. Williamson of Appalachian State University, author and editor of the "Appalachian Journal" for 28 years.

"Faith and Meaning in the Southern Uplands," published by the University of Illinois Press, deals with traditional religion in Appalachia. Covering such diverse matters as the human condition, God, the world and the Devil, the Word, Salvation and (songs of) praise in Zion, Jones' book uses the voices of church members to reveal the richness and complexity of traditional religion in the region.

"Letting members speak for themselves is what distinguishes Jones' book from others on the subject, "McKinney said while making the award. "Most scholars speak in place of the believers."

Jones is the author or editor of 10 other books on various aspects of Appalachian life and culture, including biographies of regional musicians Bascom Lamar Lunsford and Bradley Kincaid; "Reshaping the Image of Appalachia" (1986); "The Preacher Joke Book" (1989); "Laughter in Appalachia" (1987) and three other books of Appalachian humor co-authored with song-writer and entertainer Billy Edd Wheeler, and "Appalachian Values" (1994) with photographer Warren Brunner.

He also has published numerous articles, poems and reviews in a variety of both popular and scholarly journals and has produced or been involved with five albums of traditional music. From 1967-70, Jones was executive director of the Council of Southern Mountains based in Berea, and from 1970-93, he was director of Berea's Appalachian Center. A 1954 Berea College graduate, Jones also holds a masters degree from the University of North Carolina.

Among the many honors Jones has received are the Thomas Wolfe Award from the Western North Carolina Historical Society for "Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford," 1985; the Laurel Leaves Award from the Appalachian Consortium in 1987; the Cratis D. Williams Appalachian Service Award from the Appalachian Studies Association in 1993, and the Denny Plattner Award for Poetry in 1995. In 1997, Jones received a Special W.D. Weatherford Award in recognition of his dedication, scholarship and assistance in founding the modern Appalachian studies movement.