Historical Commission receives award

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded a 2024 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to the Cass County Historical Commission (CHC) last week in Linden during a commissioners meeting.

This is the fourth year in a row the Cass County Historical Commission has received this award which is an impressive honor out of 254 counties in Texas.

The Cass County Commissioners Court, acting as the CHCs governing body, was pleased to present this certificate to members of the Cass County Historical Commission during Commissioners Court on August 12 and to publicly acknowledge appointees for their dedicated service.

At the head of the court is Cass County Judge Travis Ransom along with commissioners Darrell Godwin, Doug Lance, Kevin Young and Brett Fitts.

The historical commission members are Raydeen Edwards, Kay Stephens, Misty Golden, Jo Anna Duncan, Gail Dorgan, Marvin Kelly, Kathy Peacock, Greta Wright and Liz Avis.

This annual award affirms the CHC for their exemplary initiation and execution of comprehensive programs that preserve Texas’ multitude of historic and cultural resources.

Judge Ransom had this to say about how active and busy the Cass County Historical Commission is.

“Each member of the Cass County Historical Commission covers their own part of the county and works on several different historical aspects of schools, churches and other things throughout the year,” Ransom said. “This group is very active and they have their own projects like getting markers for places like Miller Grade School, Rosenwald schools, cemeteries, churches and Linden’s courthouse. They are responsible for historic preservation and working with citizens and organizations to save Texas’ history through its landmarks. They have been working behind the scenes on a lot of projects and things. A lot goes into it.”

“Each year the members come in and advise the Cass County Commissioners Court to make judgments on historical spots or places in the county and we allocate funds for support for designation of markers,” Ransom remarked. “They meticulously document volunteer hours to the THC and meet regularly to contribute. All of their historical efforts come together.”

Ransom attends every meeting regularly which is a step up from judges in the past and that has opened the doors for new ideas within the court, members and Cass County Historical Commission chairman Marvin Kelly.

“The last two years we’ve sent two representatives to the THC conference to learn preservation and opportunities we can use here in our county,” Ransom said. “Anytime you have volunteers who work for the people of Cass County for free you want to take care of them with training and resources. They enjoy what they do so much.”

In 2024, statewide CHCs contributed an impressive 372,866 volunteer hours, translating to an in-kind donation to the state valued at $11,609,651. This award acknowledges the substantial time investment and adherence to preservation and organizational standards CHCs utilize in their projects.

“I want people to be proud of the place they live and call home, Ransom added. “That’s why we do historic preservation. There are some really neat stories about places here in our county and even people from our county; people who have done neat and interesting things. It’s my hope and I love to support it.”

County Historical Commissions (CHCs) are appointed by county’s commissioners court. CHC appointments are volunteer, professional, commitments to represent the county’s interests related to historic and cultural heritage.

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) encourages county officials to appoint/reappoint individuals who have the knowledge and skills to meet their county’s historic preservation goals.

For more information about CHCs in Texas, visit thc. texas,gov or contact the THC’s History Programs Division at 512 475-2692.