Leesburg, VA (October 18, 2023) – The 2023 Loudoun History Awards will be held at the Thomas Balch Library on Sunday, November 5 beginning at 2 p.m. This year’s honorees include George F. Atwell, Leslie Wright, and Loudoun County Public Schools along with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation and the Douglass High School Commemorative Committee.
Atwell will be recognized for his many contributions to local government and education as well as his successful advocacy to acquire and operate Thomas Balch Library as a history and genealogy library when Loudoun County planned to close it.
Wright will be recognized for her efforts in preserving the historic Mount Olive Methodist Episcopal Church, which was built by persons formerly enslaved at the Oatlands Plantation. She has also helped record its history in a book, “Gleedsville: A Place of Hopes and Dreams”.
Loudoun County Public Schools, along with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation and the Douglass High School Commemorative Committee will be recognized for the team’s accomplishments in preserving and interpreting historic Douglass High School Education and Development Campus and segregation and integration in Loudoun County history.
These individuals have made significant contributions to preserving Loudoun’s past through the collection of county documents and memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks, visual arts, writing, and long-time commitment to local history organizations.
The public is invited to attend the awards ceremony, which is sponsored by the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission. Seating is limited. To register or for more information, contact Library Director Alexandra S. Gressitt at 703-737-7195.
