HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2015-11-09 Loudoun History Awards
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Donna Bohanon and Al Van Huyck Honored by Thomas Balch
Library Commission at 23rd Annual Loudoun History Awards
Leesburg, VA (November 9, 2015) –
Donna Bohannon and Al Van Huyck
were honored at the 23rd annual
Loudoun History Awards on Sunday,
November 9th, for their
contributions to preserving
Loudoun’s past through collection of
county documents and memorabilia,
preservation of historic landmarks,
visual arts, writing, and long-time
commitment to local history
organizations.
The first honoree, Donna Bohanon, has been a member of the Black History Committee of the
Friends of the Thomas Balch Library since 2000 when it was founded. Over the years, Ms.
Bohanon has made many contributions to documenting, preserving and promoting Loudoun
County’s African American history. She worked with Loudoun County Public Schools on the
remembrance event for the former Douglass Elementary School prior to its demolition and the
permament exhibit on school desegregation in the new Frederick Douglass Elementary School.
She has represented Loudoun County and the Black History Committee at numerous
conference and seminars, most recently speaking on the topic of “Activating Interest in African
American History” at the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership’s annual conference
earlier this year. Through her efforts, Loudoun County’s African American history is a
recognized and celebrated part of the County’s heritage.
The second honoree was long-time historic preservation activist Al Van Huyck. Mr. Van Huyck
served on the Loudoun County Planning Commission from 1996 to 2003, as Board Member and
Vice President of the Preservation Society of Loudoun County, and was a co -founder of the
Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition. Over the years, he has helped to
create the policy framework that exists today in Loudoun County that protects Loudoun’s great
historic places. Through the Coalition, Mr. Van Huyck was instrumental in the creation of the
County’s Heritage Commission and amending the County’s Heritage Preservation Plan to
preserve and protect Loudoun’s network of rural roads. As a member of the Coalition’s Rural
Roads Committee, he has worked to increase the public and official appreciation of Loudoun’s
extensive network of historic roads and old bridges, and encourage better care of the old roads
by VDOT. In 2013, the Loudoun Preservation Society named Mr. Van Huyck Preservationist of
the Year.
About the Thomas Balch Library: Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library owned
and operated by the Town of Leesburg. A designated Underground Railroad research site, the
Library’s collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military
history with special emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. For more
information, visit www.leesburgva.gov/ThomasBalchLibrary.
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