In a presentation by Dickens County Judge Kevin Brendle Aug. 14, 2023, The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded a 2022 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to the Dickens County Historical Commission (CHC).
This annual award affirms Dickens CHC appointees for managing well-rounded history and preservation related programs that enrich Texas communities. The county commissioners court, which serves as the CHC’s governing body, will work with the CHC to determine the best way to present the DSA certificate and publicly acknowledge appointees for their dedicated service. CHCs provide critical volunteer efforts to preserve Texas’ unique historic, architectural, and cultural assets. They provided 294,634 volunteer hours in 2022, which is an in-kind donation to the state valued at $9,369,361.
The THC assists more than 200 CHCs through programs and services that preserve Texas’ heritage for the education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. The THC’s advisory role to CHCs is outlined in the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 318. CHCs, as directed by county officials, initiate and conduct programs that preserve the historic and cultural resources of Texas. In 2022, the Dickens CHC presented films and educational programs at the Palace Theater in Spur, raised funds to purchase an upgraded sound system for the theater, and conducted research on historic downtown buildings, among other projects. Martin was also recognized in February 2023 with the THC’s John Ben Shepperd County Historical Commission Leadership Award for his guidance of the Dickens County Historical Commission. Martin has supported countless tourism projects throughout Northwest Texas and brought eight Distinguished Service Awards to the county for its efforts to preserve, protect and promote historic resources in Dickens County; the 2022 award marks the group’s ninth.
For more information about CHCs in Texas, visit thc.texas.gov/chcoutreach or contact the THC’s History Programs Division at (512) 463-5853.
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) established the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to recognize above average County Historical Commission (CHC) preservation efforts and promote CHC accomplishments to the public. DSAs are determined by responses provided on CHC annual reports. Outreach Program staff review annual reports and high performing CHCs, when compared statewide, are recommended for a DSA. For 2022, 83 Texas CHCs attained this recognition.
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