AUSTIN— The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recently honored dedicated historic preservationists, archeologists, volunteers and others for their accomplishments and exemplary leadership in the preservation ofTexas’ heritage throughout 2023.
The Award of Excellence in Preserving History was awarded to the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library of Texas Tech University for its successful digitization of more than 290,000 issues of regional West Texas newspapers over the past 10 years. The content of the newspaper project provides researchers with time-capsule perspectives of historic, social and cultural events relevant to West Texas history.
The Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation was presented to the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution (TXDAR), an active group of approximately 19,000 women who are passionate about historic preservation comprising 198 chapters across the state.
Margaret Howard received the Curtis D. Tunnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Archeology for her essential contributions to the field of archeology and conservation in Texas over nearly four decades.
The RuthLesterLifetimeAchievement Award was awarded to Pam Wheat Stranahan of Aransas County for educating, preserving, mentoring and sharingTexas history for over 44 years.
The John L. Nau, III Award of Excellence in Museums was presented to the Museum and Visitor Center of the Bastrop County Historical Society (BCHS).
The Anice B. Read Award of Excellence in Community Heritage Development was presented to the Honorable Nancy Gott, mayor of Denison.
The Bellville Turnverein Pavilion was awarded the Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture for the restoration project that returned the 12-sided historic dance and social hall to productive use as an event venue through the sensitive application of modern technology. The project introduced air conditioning to a previously unconditioned historic wood building that did not visually impact the character-defining interior space, particularly the exposed wood roof structure.
The Award of Excellence in Media Achievement went to TexasTejano. com and KSAT 12’s“Tejano Moments” series of 20 educational video segments that aired on San Antonio television and focused on untold stories of historical significance, people and events.
BobWard ofTravis County received the John Ben Shepperd County Historical Commission Leadership Award. Ward is chair of the Travis County Historical Commission, an archeology and history steward and a member of the THC’s Antiquities Advisory Board.
Harold A. Odom, Jr. received the George Christian Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for his contributions to the Odom Homestead Preservation effort in the Newton County freedom colony of Shankleville since 2015.
TheTHC Preservation Awards will be presented at the THC’s Real Places 2024 conference, April 3–5, in Austin and online. Presented by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission in partnership with Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, LLC, Real Places is the premier historic preservation and heritage tourism event in the Lone Star State.
For more on the THC Preservation Awards, visit thc.texas.gov/awards.
