Deseret News writer Twila Van Leer was among the recipients of awards given for excellence in history by the Utah State Historical Society at its 44th annual meeting Thursday.
Van Leer, whose weekly centennial series about noted and notorious Utahns was praised by the historical society for creating "a valuable resource on Utah history for the citizens of Utah," received one of three Utah History Media Awards given this year.Other media award winners were Harold Schindler of the Salt Lake Tribune, for his account of the making of the 45th state, and Ken Verdoia and Nancy Green of KUED-TV, and Richard Firmage and the University of Utah Press, for the documentary video, "Utah: The Struggle For Statehood," and the companion book of the same name.
Verdoia, KUED senior producer, gave the annual history address at the meeting, held at the Jewett Center on the campus of Westminster College. He spoke about his work on the documentary.
Also Thursday, Dean L. May - described as a leading Utah historian whose work has spanned more than two decades - was accepted as a Utah State Historical Society Fellow.
The Dale L. Morgan Award for the best scholarly article of the year appearing in the "Utah Historical Quarterly," went to Carol Cornwall Madsen for "Decade of Detente: The Mormon-Gentile Female Relationship in Nineteenth Century Utah."
Kerry William Bate received the Morris S. Rosenblatt Award for the best general interest article of the year appearing in the publication, "Kanarraville Fights World War I."
Peter G. van Alfen of Texas won the Nick Yengich Memorial Editors' Choice Award for "Sail and Steam: Great Salt Lake's Boats and Boatbuilders, 1847-1901."
Utah Heritage Awards for outstanding work contributing to an appreciation of Utah's heritage were given to Navajo weaver Elizabeth Marshall for showing the connection between the art of weaving and its place in Navajo culture; Jonathan Sweet, for his commitment to preserving Salt Lake City's architectural heritage; and the International Daughters of Utah Pioneers, for obtaining detailed data on some 1,750 historical monuments and markers in the state.
The Amy Allen Price Military History Award, for a book, article or museum exhibit which significantly contributes to the understanding of United States military history as it relates to Utah, went to Thomas Carter, for directing a Fort Douglas symposium; and Roger D. Launius of Washington, D.C., and Jessie L. Embry of Provo, for their article, "A Transforming Force: Military Aviation and Utah in World War II."
Historic Preservation Awards were given to Doug Knuteson and Kim Rindlisbacher for their efforts to preserve Midvale's historic Main Street; Centerville and Mayor Priscilla Todd; and Arza Huff Welch, project manager of the South Cottonwood Temple Granite Rest Camp Park.
The Antiquities Awards, given for outstanding archaeological reserarch and preservation in the state went to Tom Freestone of Vernal for contributing to the preservation and protection of rock art panels in the Uinta basin; Skip Lange of Bluff, for forming the non-profit Southwest Heritage Foundation Inc.; Vi Meyer of Brigham City, for donating time to the Promontory/Tubaduka Chapter of the Utah Statewide Historic Society; and Lisa Pringle of Uintah, for her work with the chapter.
Service Awards, given for outstanding service to the historical society and to Utah history, went to Douglas D. Alder of St. George, a volunteer on many Washington County projects; Ken Cannon, a former member of the "Utah Historical Quarterly" advisory board; Les Foy, a teacher, author preservationist and city leader in Bountiful; and Clara Goudy, president of the Centerville Historical Society and a member of the Centerville Historic Sites Committee.
Recognized for outstanding achievement as students in the field of history were Wendy Butler, Brigham Young University; Spencer Eccles, University of Utah; and Tom Hill and Mary Hill, Weber State University.