Richard O. White (left) of Beebe accepts a “Cloie Award” from Historical Society president Tony Young.
Historical Society Awards Announced
The White County Historical Society has wrapped up Heritage Month by bestowing its highest accolade, the Heritage Award, on Craig Christiansen of Bald Knob for his efforts in restoring the Bald Knob depot and establishing a railroad museum. He received the award in a ceremony during the Society’s regular monthly meeting Monday evening, May 28, at Harding Place in Searcy. 
In addition, the husband-wife team of Cheryl and Bob Shaver of Judsonia received the historians’ 2006 "Volunteer of the Year" Award for their work in preserving Fredonia Cemetery and placing it on the National Register of Historic Places. Cloie Presley Writing Awards went to Richard O. White of Beebe for his book "Those Were The Days - Remembering the Past", a history of the Beebe area, and to Ray Toler of Springdale for his book "The Searcy I Remember, 1922-42," which he donated to the Historical Society as a fund raiser. A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Gary and Karen Marshall, owners of The Tender Loving Care Early Learning Center, who donated the historic Randall House and another structure to Pioneer Village.
The presentations were followed by a special Memorial Day program presented by author Patsy Pipkin, who displayed a rare set of World War II airplane spotter cards and discussed her new book, “Hilton Emde – An Ordinary Man in Extraordinary Times.”
