a suit. Visible on one lapel is the embroidered figure of a voluptuous naked woman. The green leaves featured prominently in the design on the front of the jacket are a marijuana plant, and the red-petaled flowers above them are poppies, the natural source of morphine, opium, and heroin. The suit has been continuously linked to the manner of his death. Parsons was 26 years old at the time of his death, with official cause being an overdose of morphine and alcohol. Manuel has been quoted as saying, "Gram and I discussed his suit in detail for several months before I committed it to fabric. It wasn't until years later looking back that I realized he wanted me to design the suit the way he would want to die. From the pills, the woman, the cross, the poppies to the flames on the pants and of course in the end his body went up in flames in Joshua Tree with our friend Phil Kaufman." Awards 2018 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. 2015 "NAHCC's Outstanding Leadership in Arts & Culture Award" to MANUEL, Presented by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) during its Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Gala at Waller. 2014 Father of the Year Honoree, Nashville, TN Presented by the Father’s Day Council; June 2014 2013 Creativity Achievement Award, Morelia Michoacan, Mexico Presented by the La Voz; June 2013 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, Morelia Michoacan, Mexico Presented by President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico; September 2012 2011 Best in Show, Pedestal Piece, Cody, Wyoming Presented by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce; September 2011 2009 "Hispanic Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award" presented to Manuel Cuevas, owner and founder of Manuel American Designs of Nashville Tennessee presented by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at Nashville Public Television (NPT) studios. 2008 Cody High Style Award, Cody, Wyoming Presented by the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce; September 2008 2006 Country Music Association Recognition, Nashville, TN Presented by the Country Music Association 2005 Tennessee State Museum Costume and Textile Institute Inductee, Nashville, TN Presented by the Tennessee State Museum Costume and Textile Institute, 2005 2003 HELO Appreciation Award, Washington DC Presented by the National League of Cities Congress of Cities; December 2003 2003 Achievement in the Arts, Nashville, TN Presented by