May 12, 2005

The Michigan Historical Commission will recognize three dedicated public servants for their contributions to historic preservation with the Governor John B. Swainson Award.  Dr. William M. Anderson, director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, will present the awards during a ceremony at the State Capitol on Thursday, May 26, at 11:30 a.m.

Given by the Michigan Historical Commission to state, county or municipal employees who have gone above and beyond their official job duties to help preserve Michigan's history, the prestigious Swainson Award has been part of the Michigan Week celebration since 1996.

"Governor John B. Swainson was the only official to serve in all three branches of Michigan state government.  He had a passion for Michigan's history that carried over into his retirement when he served as Chairman of the Michigan Historical Commission.  This year's Swainson award winners personify John's love of Michigan history by going beyond the confines of their job descriptions to make significant contributions to the preservation of Michigan's past.  Without the commitment of individuals such as these, important, instructive, and illuminating aspects of Michigan's past would certainly be lost," said Steven Hamp, president of the Michigan Historical Commission.

This year's Swainson Award recipients are:

·         Nancy Darga - Recreation Commissioner for Northville Township and City
Darga, former chief of design for the Wayne County Parks Division, spent more than 25 years assembling a historic archive of artifacts and photos that chronicle the beginning of the Good Roads Movement and the development of the first County Park System.  She rescued and preserved over 1,000 photos and slides that had been thrown out, restoring many of them at her own cost, and set up an archive for the Wayne County Department of Public Service.  Darga also registered four of the Ford Village Industry plants along the Rouge River as historic sites, despite political pressure to demolish them, and established public tours and presentations on Michigan's unique contributions to the auto industry, labor and civil rights.  She is a founding member of The Friends of Nankin Mills, raising over $1 million to restore the site and adapt it for use as an interpretive center, and a founding organizer and current board member of the MotorCities National Heritage Area.

·         Chief Tom Wibert - City of East Lansing Police Department
Chief Tom Wibert, an East Lansing police officer since 1985, has devoted much time and effort to documenting and sharing the history of the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD).  He worked with the families of the city's twelve former and current police chiefs to assemble their uniforms, badges and other items, dating back 60 years, into a permanent display in the police conference room.  Wibert researched and developed a program on the police department's history that is presented to employees and those who attend ELPD's Citizens Police Academy education program.  He also created an ELPD history lesson that is now included as part of all police officers' training and has led to topic-specific presentations for local community groups.  Wibert's research has made him a sought-after speaker, giving his dynamic presentation on the history of East Lansing civil disorders to many groups, schools and the YMCA.  He is also actively involved in the East Lansing Historical Society.

·         Kendall Wingrove - Manager of Internal Communication, House Republican Communications Office
A longtime press secretary with the Michigan House of Representatives, Kendall Wingrove has helped preserve and share Michigan's history in a variety of ways.  These efforts include: spearheading a memorable and moving ceremony at the State Capitol to mark the 60^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, producing a special edition of the legislative newsletter The Messenger featuring photos and remembrances of World War II, writing a series of articles in The Messenger about the State Capitol's history, playing an instrumental role in the yearlong celebration of Capitol's 125^th anniversary in 2004, organizing the production of a brochure about the veterans memorials in and around the State Capitol, writing feature stories on the history of local citizens for The Voice newspapers in St. Clair and Macomb Counties, and helping to organize events in Port Huron commemorating the 125^th anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb.

The Michigan Historical Commission is part of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan heritage, and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.