The Board of Trustees of the Dallas Historical Society announced the 2016 Awards for Excellence (AFE) in Community Service. This honor is bestowed on selected recipients who have demonstrated generosity of spirit, civic leadership, and ability to encourage community-wide participation in a particular phase of the growth of the city. The recipients will be honored at the 35th AFE luncheon on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Dallas.
Former award recipients Gail and Robert Hyer Thomas will serve as 2016 honorary co-chairs. With distinguished professional and volunteer careers in the humanities, urban planning, education and the law, Gail and Bob Thomas have long represented the best of civic participation in Dallas. Mary Suhm and Veletta Forsythe Lill are the 2016 event co-chairs, with Louise Caldwell as advisor/coordinator.
“The Dallas Historical Society is honored to recognize this class of notable award recipients. Their service to the community in their varied fields has contributed greatly to the history of this city,” said William C. Helmbrecht III, chairman, Dallas Historical Society Board of Directors.
2016 Awards for Excellence recipients:
Arts Leadership – Keith Cerny
This award is given to that individual who has enriched the cultural life of Dallas as planner, organizer, fundraiser, collector or art historian.
Business – Leonard M. Riggs, Jr. M.D.
This award is given to that individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the business climate of the community.
Creative Arts – Eliseo Garcia
This award is given to that individual whose prominence as a practitioner of the fine arts as artisan, architect, writer, composer, producer or performer has enriched the cultural environment of Dallas.
Education – Pat Mattingly
This award is given to that individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the field of education as a teacher, administrator or benefactor.
History – Hugh Aynesworth
This award is given to that individual who has researched and chronicled aspects of the history of Dallas and Texas as a historian, journalist, researcher, folklorist or author.
Humanities – Molly Bogen
This award is given to that individual whose active sense of civic duty has provided leadership in achieving specific community goals.
Medical Research – Dr. Eric Olson
This award is given to that individual who has made an outstanding contribution through prominence or public service in medicine, scientific research, the behavioral sciences or public health.
Philanthropy – Linda Perryman Evans
This award is given to that individual whose vision and personal generosity has greatly benefited this city.
Sports Leadership – Michael Johnson
This award is given to that individual who has brought distinction or achievement to team or individual sports as an athlete, coach, journalist, promoter or sports advocate.
Volunteer Community Leadership – Philip C. Henderson
This award is given to that individual whose generous gift of self has enriched the community.
Volunteer Community Leadership – Frederick “Shad” Rowe
This award is given to that individual whose generous gift of self has enriched the community.
Jubilee History Maker – Margot Perot
Created in 1991 and given in recognition of Jubilee Dallas!, this award recognizes an individual whose achievements extend to more than one of the award categories.
Tickets for the 35th annual Awards for Excellence Luncheon begin at $125, with table sales/underwriting levels beginning at $1000. For more information or to purchase a ticket or sponsorship, visit http://www.dallashistory.org/support/awards-for-excellence/ or contact Nora Lenhart, 214-421-4500x101 or Nora@dallashistory.org
The Dallas Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Dallas and Texas history. Offering free education programming, lectures, historic city tours, museum exhibitions, and other special events, this organization strives to be the preeminent resource for exploring, and instilling appreciation for the diverse history of Dallas and Texas. We endeavor to encourage historical inquiry and maintain the importance and relevance of history today. Our collection of archival material- including historic photographs, diaries, journals, papers, periodicals, maps, and books- is available to researchers. Formed in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society is the oldest organization in Dallas County committed to preserving the history of the region, and presenting it to the public in innovative and informative ways. For more information, visit dallashistory.org.