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Preservation
Leader Receives
Statewide Preservation Award
Former
Thomasville Landmarks Executive Director
Honored in Hometown April 2
ATLANTA,
April 2, 2005—Melissa Forgey received an
award for Preservation Service from The
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation at its
annual meeting April 2 in her hometown of
Thomasville, Ga.
Acting
as the Executive Director of Thomasville
Landmarks since 1994, Melissa Forgey has made
numerous contributions to Thomasville’s
historic character. One of the preservation
organization’s greatest accomplishments
during her tenure has been the Warren Avenue
Restoration Project, which saved an entire
endangered historic neighborhood from
demolition and crime that was spreading into
the district.
Forgey’s
success as director of Thomasville Landmarks
was evident the weekend of the annual meeting,
when hundreds toured sites restored with the
preservation organization’s help.
Born
in Missouri, Forgey moved to Georgia with her
family when she was 12 years old. She received
her undergraduate degree in history from Emory
University and her master’s degree in
Heritage Preservation from Georgia State
University.
From
1991 to 1994, she worked at the Jekyll Island
Museum, first as an intern and then as
assistant curator.
When
she moved to Thomasville in 1994, Forgey and
her husband bought one of the last un-restored
homes in the city to rehabilitate. As
director, she has been instrumental in saving
not only the mansions of Thomasville, but also
the homes of the average citizen. To Forgey,
these “average” homes can teach the
Thomasville community more about its history
then the grand plantations that dot the
Thomasville landscape.
“The
Georgia Trust is pleased to honor a very
important influence involved in shaping the
historic landscape of Thomasville,” said
Greg Paxton, president and CEO of The Georgia
Trust. “Melissa is a great example of what
can be accomplished by preservationists.”
For
more than 25 years the Trust has recognized
preservation projects and individuals in the
state who have made significant contributions
to the field of historic preservation. Awards
are presented on the basis of the
contributions of the person or project to the
community and/or state and on compliance with
the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Awards
in the Excellence in Preservation Service
category recognize persons, groups, businesses
or government entities demonstrating exemplary
activities and promoting awareness in the
field of historic preservation. The scope of
work may be of local, regional or statewide
significance. This
year the Trust presented one Preservation
Service award.
With
more than 8,000 members, The Georgia Trust for
Historic Preservation is the country’s
largest statewide, nonprofit preservation
organization. Founded in 1973, the Trust is
committed to preserving and enhancing
Georgia’s communities and their diverse
historic resources for the education and
enjoyment of all.
The
Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for
endangered properties acquired by its
Revolving Fund; provides design assistance to
105 Georgia Main Street cities and encourages
neighborhood revitalization; trains
Georgia’s teachers in 56 Georgia school
systems to engage students in discovering
state and national history through their local
historic resources; and advocates for funding,
tax incentives and other laws aiding
preservation efforts.
The
Georgia Trust is a recipient of the Trustees
Award for Organizational Excellence from the
National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For
more information on Melissa Forgey, contact
Thomasville Landmarks, Inc. at 229-226-6016 or
TLI@Rose.net.
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