KHPF finalist for Best Downtown Partner category

Kilgore Historic Preservation Foundation is one of two finalists in the Best Downtown Partner category for the 2008 Texas Downtown Association (TDA) Presidents Awards Program.

KHPF was nominated for the award by Fallon Burns, Main Street manager, for the civic organizations' continual effort to better Kilgore's downtown and Kilgore as a whole.

Burns submitted a narrative on KHPF with a ten-slide Power Point presentation highlighting some of KHPF's notable contributions, including the resurrection of the famous Kilgore skyline.

"Those derricks pretty much define downtown Kilgore," Burns said. "The before and after pictures submitted were a powerful testimony in themselves."

Other before and after pictures submitted depicted were of the two downtown theaters which were transformed for curb appeal with total facade makeovers.

Burns also touted the foundations' role in bringing Boom, a stage production presented earlier this year, to Kilgore; the foundation's recent release of a second Kilgore history book; renovations to the Dean Keener Crim home; creation of World's Richest Acre Park; participation and involvement in community events; preservation month events; derrick lighting at Christmas; and the salvage of Kilgore's historic Post Office murals.

"I think KHPF just has to win," Burns said. "The foundation really does not get enough recognition for its projects."

Sue Brown, KHPF board president, said KHPF is happy to participate in the program and honored that Burns would make such a nomination.

"On behalf of the board and all of the volunteers that work so hard for this association, I can say we appreciate all of the recognition, the nomination and we are pleased to participate," Brown said.

The Best Downtown Partner Award recognizes excellence in a local private or civic organization that positively impacts the community and actively contributes to the revitalization efforts of the downtown or commercial district.

Finalists make a presentation at the Texas Downtown Revitalization Conference "Creating Partnerships for Downtown," in Temple on Nov. 13. Winners are announced at an awards gala held that evening.

The other finalist is Southwestern University in Georgetown.