FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 28, 2026) – The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the Kentucky Heritage Council, proudly presented nine awards celebrating historic preservation projects and advocates from across Kentucky on Wednesday, May 27, at the historic Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The annual Ida Lee Willis Historic Preservation Awards recognize exceptional individuals, organizations and projects that demonstrate commitment to preserving Kentucky’s historic places and cultural heritage through advocacy, stewardship, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, volunteerism, education and community investment.
The recipients of the Ida Lee Willis Historic Preservation Awards are:
Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award
Thomas “Tommy” Collier Hines of South Union received the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award in recognition of four decades of professional leadership and stewardship as executive director of South Union Shaker Village.
Since assuming the role in 1986 following his graduation from Western Kentucky University with a master’s degree in historic preservation, Hines has become synonymous with preservation efforts at the nationally significant Shaker community founded in 1807. Under his leadership, South Union’s remaining historic structures and farmland have been carefully rehabilitated, interpreted and preserved with a strong emphasis on authenticity, research and education. His lifelong dedication to preservation, scholarship and public interpretation has made a lasting impact across Kentucky and beyond.
Service to Preservation Awards
Sam Burgess was recognized for his 25 years of leadership as the Carrollton Main Street director. Burgess has championed preservation-based economic development, adaptive reuse, downtown revitalization and appropriate rehabilitation practices while mentoring Main Street leaders across the commonwealth. His work has helped protect historic buildings, strengthen local businesses and reinforce downtown Carrollton as a vibrant civic and economic center.
Douglas Naselroad was recognized for integrating preservation, workforce development and recovery initiatives through the nonprofit Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Co. A master luthier and founder of the Appalachian School of Luthiery, Naselroad transformed the former WPA-era Hindman High School into a nationally recognized nonprofit instrument manufacturing and training center that provides employment opportunities for individuals in recovery while preserving a historic community landmark through adaptive reuse.
Grassroots Preservation Awards
Roy Bell, Rev. Joe Marshall and Ryan Irvine were recognized for their restoration and preservation efforts at Little Mount Colored Cemetery in Spencer County. Over the past five years, the cousins led extensive volunteer-driven cleanup and stabilization efforts at the historic African American cemetery, restoring visibility, access and dignity to a site at risk of being lost to time.
The board of Columbia Art House was recognized for ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the historic Columbia Theater in downtown Paducah. Originally constructed in 1927 as a vaudeville venue, the theater has undergone significant exterior restoration, masonry stabilization and marquee rehabilitation after decades of vacancy and decline. The nonprofit’s work represents a major step toward returning the landmark theater to active use as a performing arts venue and cultural hub.
Preservation Project Awards
Community Ventures was recognized for the rehabilitation efforts for Mustard Seed Hill in Millersburg. Through the rehabilitation of the former Millersburg Military Institute campus, the nonprofit transformed a deteriorating property into a thriving event venue, business incubator, educational campus and tourism destination that has become a catalyst for community revitalization.
Terry and Stephen Zink of On Broadway were recognized for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic commercial buildings in Louisville’s Phoenix Hill Historic District into Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub. The project successfully combined historic rehabilitation tax credits, grant funding and local partnerships to preserve the former Epping Bottling Works offices while supporting small business development and neighborhood reinvestment.
Wilkinson Builders was recognized for the adaptive reuse of the historic Belknap School in Louisville into 26 residential apartments. Originally constructed in 1916, the project preserved the school’s defining architectural features while introducing much-needed housing within the highly walkable Belknap neighborhood.
Dean and Shane Gosney were recognized for the rehabilitation of the former York Street Congregational Church in Newport into The Prestant, a mixed-use event venue. The adaptive reuse project carefully balanced modernization with preservation of the church’s significant Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival architectural features, restoring original windows, woodwork, flooring and masonry while giving the historic structure renewed purpose and long-term sustainability.
About the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation
The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation was chartered in 1979 to honor Ida Lee Willis, Kentucky’s first state historic preservation officer and executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Commission, now the Kentucky Heritage Council. The awards have been presented annually since 1979 to recognize outstanding achievements in historic preservation throughout the commonwealth and a full list of past winners can be found on our website.
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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of prehistoric resources and historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the commonwealth in partnership with federal and state agencies, local communities and interested citizens.