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2024 Preservation Award & Ed Lentz Prize Winners

Seven outstanding individuals and organizations who have advanced historic preservation in Columbus through action!

Reserve Your Spot for this Year’s Awards, HERE

Recognizing Jack's/Summit Station Documentary Crew of Free Beer Tomorrow, Stephanie Matthews and A Tribe for Jazz, Marshall Shorts and Bronzeville Universe, STEM Factory at Ohio State University, Brian Williams, Bexley Historical Society's book with Edie Mae, and Dr. Nathan Harris

Henry L Hunker Urban Legacy Award

Henry L. Hunker was the second President of Columbus Landmarks and Professor of Geography at Ohio State. Hunker understood that what we have today is the result of the physical, economic, social, creative  and cultural forces that combine to shape a city over time. He was known to be a wonderful storyteller and architectural adventurer. This award honors those who love and appreciate the urban environment, in its broadest definition, and work tirelessly to improve it.

WINNER: Marshall Shorts, Creative-in-Chief at Artfluential, Bronzeville Universe

Paul E. Young Outstanding Achievement in Education Award

Paul E. Young was a founding Trustee of Columbus Landmarks and longtime Professor of Architecture at Ohio State. Paul fostered love of the city and appreciation for its layers and detail in his students. The Award in his memory honors those who lead discovery of a new dimension of the city’s architectural and historical legacy.

WINNER: Stephanie Matthews, A Tribe for Jazz

Frederick J. Holdridge Outstanding Group Award

Frederick J. Holdridge was an honorary Columbus Landmarks trustee and German Village activist extraordinaire. The Award recognizes people who have significantly fostered the cause of historic preservation and like Fred, make it meaningful and for all to enjoy.

WINNER: The STEAM Factory, The College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio State University

Dixie Sayre Miller Patron Award

Dixie Sayre Miller was a trustee of Columbus Landmarks, and a determined advocate. Dixie’s passion for preservation was matched by her generosity; she designated Columbus Landmarks a beneficiary of her estate. The 2009 bequest established an endowment fund that is growing at The Columbus Foundation and providing seed capital for the Home Preservation Loan Fund. The Dixie Sayre Miller Patron Award recognizes commitment and support that reaches beyond the ordinary in the cause of historic preservation

WINNER: Bexley Historical Society, Bexley Historical Portraits of Memories 

James L. Keyes President’s Award

The James L. Keyes President’s Award is named for the founding President of Columbus Landmarks and a lifelong believer in the importance of historic preservation. Jim was there 44 years ago in the battle to save the remaining Union Station Arch and move it twice, and to create this organization dedicated to historic preservation and design excellence.

WINNER: Dr. Nathan Harris

Larrilyn Edwards Connector Award

Californian by birth, Larrilyn Edwards loved her adopted city of Columbus, where she played a major role in the growth of the historic preservation movement. Along with her long-term advocacy on behalf of our historic buildings, she achieved particular success in three pivotal efforts: 1) as the first executive director of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, today the city’s premier preservation organization; 2) as president of the Junior League of Columbus when that organization took responsibility for long-term care of the Kelton House on East Town Street; and 3) in persuading the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to stop the in-progress demolition of the Deaf School, which thrives today as Cristo Rey High School. Larrilyn’s voice could be heard loud and clear in her column in the Columbus Citizen Journal and her commentaries on WCMH-TV’s channel 4. After a return to California Larrilyn continued pursuits in several creative fields before passing away late in 2020; but it is safe to say that our city is a far better place for her having called it home.

WINNER: Brian Williams, Journalist

Ed Lentz Prize

Columbus Landmarks is pleased to award the Ed Lentz Prize in honor of its namesake. The Ed Lentz Prize is a $500 award given annually to celebrate the winning entry of an individual/individual group who has created a work (writing, presentation, film, etc.) within the past three years that best documents, evokes, interprets, analyzes or captures the importance of place and its preservation.

WINNER: The documentary film of Jack’s/Summit Station entitled, “Free Beer Tomorrow”

A documentary film project telling the story of Jack’s/Summit Station, Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar. Recently their research led to an Ohio Historic Marker being placed in front of Summit Station.