Nominate someone for a 2012 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Preservation Award!

NEW: Submission deadline extended to Monday, April 16

The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation and Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office are seeking nominations for the 34th Annual Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Awards. This signature statewide event recognizes excellence in historic building preservation, advocacy efforts and lifetime commitment to preserving Kentucky’s historic and prehistoric resources. 

Left: Vest-Lindsey House, Frankfort, first home of the Kentucky Heritage Council, which Mrs. Ida Lee Willis is credited with saving from the wrecking ball

Nominations are accepted in three categories:

• Preservation Project Awards acknowledge outstanding examples of historic building restoration or rehabilitation, or other types of projects that have had a positive impact on preserving Kentucky’s archaeological resources or built environment.
• Service to Preservation Awards honor those who have had a positive impact or furthered historic preservation activities in their communities, including individuals, organizations, public officials, financial institutions, news media and/or volunteers.
• The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award goes to the individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of historic preservation in the Commonwealth. The 2011 honoree was Robert M. “Bob” Polsgrove, of Frankfort, retired president of the Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation, which commits funds and uses hands-on approaches to save Kentucky's endangered buildings and sites.

Nominations may be submitted via mail or in person to the Kentucky Heritage Council, 300 Washington Street, Frankfort, Ky. 40601. Entries may also be submitted via email to kyheritage@ky.gov or by fax, 502-564-5820. All entries must be received or postmarked by Monday, April 16.
 
Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges representing various agencies and nonprofit organizations, including the Kentucky Heritage Council, Preservation Kentucky Inc. and members of the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation. Winners will be recognized during a special ceremony in May, which is National Preservation Month.

The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation was chartered in 1979 to honor Ida Lee Willis, the first executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Commission (now the Kentucky Heritage Council) and widow of former Gov. Simeon Willis. It was during Mrs. Willis’ tenure that Kentucky’s successful statewide historic preservation program was initiated.

Mrs. Willis was directly responsible for saving the Vest-Lindsey House in Frankfort, home of a long-time early Kentucky Congressman, and this achievement resulted in her being appointed Kentucky’s first state historic preservation officer in 1966. Under her direction, the Heritage Council began in earnest to survey the state, nominate sites to the National Register of Historic Places, award grants and promote preservation statewide.  Today her daughter, Mrs. Sally Willis Meigs, and others serving on the foundation board continue to sponsor these annual awards to honor Mrs. Willis’ legacy and her dedication to preserving historic and archaeological resources throughout the Commonwealth.

2011 Awards Ceremony

The 33rd Annual Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Awards were presented during a special ceremony May 24 at the Kentucky Governor's Executive Mansion in Frankfort.  The ceremony is presented each year in partnership with the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation and Kentucky Heritage Council.  Also during the ceremony, student winners winners in the 13th Annual Statewide Photo-Essay Competition were honored, a competition co-sponsored by Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and the Heritage Council.

The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award is presented to the individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of historic preservation in the Commonwealth.  The 2011 recipient was Robert M. "Bob" Polsgrove of Frankfort, retired president of the Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation, who was honored for his life's work in preservation, grassroots advocacy efforts and leadership of the Kentucky Trust, which commits funds and uses hands-on approaches to save Kentucky's endangered buildings and sites.

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View a photo gallery from the 2011 Awards Ceremony

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Ida Lee Willis Memorial Preservation Awards are presented each May, in observance of National Historic Preservation Month, and recognize those who have demonstrated an understanding of and an appreciation for the value of preserving and reusing Kentucky’s historic and prehistoric resources, whether through the restoration of an important structure or community resource or through a lifetime commitment to encouraging and promoting historic preservation.  The awards are named for the late Ida Lee Willis, who was appointed first executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Commission (now the Kentucky Heritage Council) in 1966.

Preservation Project Awards recognize outstanding examples of restoration or rehabilitation of historic buildings, or other types of projects that have had a positive impact on Kentucky’s built environment.  2011 winners were:

• Eastside Revitalization Project, Covington, spearheaded by The Model Group, in recognition of its partnership with the city to take on a major revitalization effort of more than 70 abandoned and neglected buildings and rehabilitating nearly 40 of these to date, with the goal of transforming vacant historic buildings into updated, affordable housing while preserving their historic fabric.
• Louisville Water Company Pump Station 1 and owner Louisville Water Company, for its commitment to complete a full exterior restoration of the Greek Revival-style pump station utilizing historic drawings and original materials and methods, with the goal to minimize maintenance, stay true to the historic nature of the building and extend the life of this iconic structure.
• West-Metcalfe House, Mill Springs Battlefield, Wayne County, and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association, in recognition of its commitment to preserve and painstakingly restore the first brick house in the Wayne County region, which tells the story of local families and served as a Civil War hospital but which in recent years had literally begun crumbling from decades of decay and neglect.

Service to Preservation Awards honor those who have furthered historic preservation activities or had a positive impact in their communities, including individuals, organizations, public officials, financial institutions, news media, and/or volunteers.  2011 winners were:

• The Landmark Association of Bowling Green and Warren County, for 35 years of dedication to preserving the historic fabric of the community of Bowling Green and all of Warren County, through diverse efforts including advocacy, education, fundraising, cultural heritage interpretation and hands-on training.
• Lynda Closson, Stanford, for her many years of leadership and commitment to preserving and rehabilitating historic Duncan Tavern and other community preservation projects.
• Donna Horn-Taylor, Laurel County; and Julie Nelson Harris, editor, Tara Kaprowy and Nita Johnson, reporters, London Sentinel Echo, in recognition of their efforts to save and preserve the historic Pennington House in downtown London – despite its eventual demolition – and in the process raising awareness and educating the community about why the preservation of historic buildings is important to quality of life, community pride and economic development.

Scot Walters
Site Development Program Manager
Kentucky Heritage Council
(502) 564-7005, ext. 133
scot.walters@ky.gov

Diane Comer
Public Information Officer
Kentucky Heritage Council
(502) 564-7005, ext. 120
diane.comer@ky.gov