Woodstock Organization Announces Citizen Of The Year

Preservation Woodstock has given its Barbara G. Ingram Citizen of the Year Award to a long-time Cherokee County resident.

Bill Johnston has named the 15th recipient of the award, which has been given each year since 1997 to individuals who are active in preserving Woodstock's history and heritage.

Johnston's interest in preserving the city's history predates the establishment of the award and Preservation Woodstock. His wife Mary Johnston was bestowed with the honor in 2005. 

In keeping with the tradition, Johnston will ride in the city's Christmas Jubilee Parade on Dec. 1 and will officially be recognized at the Park at City Center after the parade.

The Johnstons, who live in downtown Woodstock, are members of the Cherokee County Historical Society and Preservation Woodstock. 

Listed below are past recipients of the award:

• Juanita Hughes (1997)
• Smith Johnston (1998)
• Glen Hubbard (1999)
• David Rogers (2000, posthumously)
• Mary Lou Reece (2001)
• Claud Barnes (2002)
• Homer Hughes (2003)
• Denver Rainey (2004)
• Mary Johnston (2005)
• Milicent Barnes Fox (2006)
• Christine Blight (2007)
• Raymond Dodson (2008
• Elaine Hubbard (2009)
• Jo Marchildon (2010)
• Kim Jordy (2011)

The award is named in honor of Barbara Ingram, who served as secretary and co-chair if the former Woodstock Centennial Commission. 

The commission, which later changed its name to Preservation Woodstock, was responsible for organizing the festivities surrounding the city's centennial celebration in 1997. Ingram passed away in December 1996, just one month shy of the centennial. Former Mayor David Rogers pitched the idea of the award to honor Ingram and others who followed her passion to preserve the city's history.

Along with promoting and preserving the city's history, Preservation Woodstock also places plaques on historic places and areas throughout the city. The organization most recently held a ribbon cutting earlier this month for the placement of historic signage at Olde Rope Mill Park. The signage highlights the history of the Rope Mill that was located at the site.

For more information about Preservation Woodstock and the award, email Woodstock City Historian Juanita Hughes at 4jhughes@bellsouth.net.