Arkansas Henry Award winners announced
by March 6, 2012 10:02 pm 144 views
WEST MEMPHIS — Officials with the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism presented the annual Henry Awards during the closing banquet of the 38th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The conference was held March 4-6 in West Memphis.
The Henry Awards honor individuals and organizations which have made important contributions to the state’s tourism industry in the preceding year.
The highlight of the awards ceremony was the naming of the Tourism Person of the Year, which went to Dr. Dean Kumpuris of Little Rock. Also during the ceremonies, Nancy Clark of Little Rock and Shelby Woods of Little Rock were inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame.
Other Henry Award recipients for 2011 include:
Media Support Award: Art Meripol, Birmingham, Ala.
Bootstrap Award: Montgomery County Arkansas Frontporch Stage, Mount Ida
Arkansas Heritage Award: Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society, Jacksonville
Grand Old Classic Special Event Award: Greers Ferry Lake & Little Red River Cleanup, Heber Springs
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: LOViT Traildogs, Mount Ida
Community Tourism Development Award: Let’s Paint Stuttgart, Stuttgart
The Natural State Award: Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Texarkana
Tourism Special Achievement Award: Paula Miles, Jonesboro
Sandy Edwards, deputy director of museum relations, accepted the Crystal Award on behalf of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
The Henry Awards have been a feature of the annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism since their debut in 1981. The awards are named for Henri de Tonti, founder of Arkansas Post in 1686 and who is often hailed as the first “Arkansas Traveler.”