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Historian
Dawes Awarded the First William
Harley Gandy Award
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The
Montgomery County
Historical Commission is pleased to announce that Kay Lynn Dawes has been
selected as the first recipient of the
William
Harley Gandy Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Dawes, an active member of
the East Montgomery County Historical Society, will receive this award on
Tuesday morning, February 28, 2017 during the Montgomery County Commissioners
Court meeting.
Courtesy Photo
Historian Kay Lynn Dawes
has been selected as the
first recipient of the William Harley Gandy
Distinguished Service Award
The William Harley
Gandy Distinguished Service Award is
presented at the discretion of the County Historical Commission to individuals,
corporations or organizations who exhibit distinguished leadership, initiative
and dedication to the preservation of the History of Montgomery County. The
winner of the award must have shown significant accomplishments in the field of
historical preservation and research. Such achievements must be notable and have
made an important contribution to the preservation and/or advancement of the
History of Montgomery County.
The award is named in honor and memory of William Harley Gandy, who was
appointed in 1953 as the first chairman of the Montgomery County Historical
Commission. Mr. Gandy wrote his Master’s thesis on the “History of Montgomery
County, Texas” while attending the University of Houston. This paper is
considered today to be the definitive work on the history of Montgomery County.
During his lifetime, Mr. Gandy was instrumental in preserving several important
historical buildings in the county. He also was recognized for his exemplary
teaching of history at both the public-school level and at Sam Houston State
University.
The County Historical Commission has selected Kay Lynn Dawes for this
prestigious award because of her numerous important contributions to the
preservation of the history of East Montgomery County, its communities, families
and cemeteries.
From her research have come books on the histories of Splendora and Fostoria.
She is presently working on books for New Caney, Porter and Grangerland.
Ms. Dawes is a charter
member and was instrumental in the founding and organization of the East
Montgomery County Historical Society. She has held many offices in the
organization and is presently Vice President. She has helped plan and organize
several Confederate grave marker dedications in Montgomery and Robertson
Counties. Her love of research extends to East County family histories from
which she has written two books: The Needham Family History and the
History of the Mayer Family.
In preparing programs for the East Montgomery County Historical Society,
Kay Dawes has also done extensive research on White Oak and Enloe Cemeteries
which were made into books. Her books on Presswood and Skinner cemeteries are
presently being finalized. Ms. Dawes has an extensive collection of photographs
of East County which she has obtained from descendants of the area. Using these
photographs, she has developed numerous power point presentations to inform the
public of the local history of East County.
Kay Dawes is a devoted lover of history and a tireless researcher who has worked
diligently to help conserve and preserve the history of East Montgomery County
for future generations. The Montgomery County Historical Commission is
therefore delighted that she has been selected as the first recipient of this
prestigious award.
The award presentation ceremony will be conducted during the regular
Commissioners Court meeting which begins at 9:30 am on Tuesday morning, February
28, 2017. The Commissioners Court room is located on the Fourth Floor of the
Alan B. Sadler Building, at 501 North Thompson and West Phillips (Highway 105)
in downtown Conroe. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony.
Larry L. Foerster, Chairman
Montgomery County Historical Commission
414 West Phillips, Suite 100,
Conroe, Texas 77301
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