| 2011 WWHA Award Winners |
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1. Lifetime Contribution Award - Donna P. Ernst, Lederbach, PA. Donna has been a history researcher/writer since she and her husband Paul learned he was the great-grand nephew of Harry A. Longabaugh, aka The Sundance Kid. Donna was a member of WOLA, one of our parent outlaw/lawman associations, for immediate but not founding years, and served as its Secretary for six years and newsletter editor for about four years. She has also served as Chair of WWHA’s Book of the Year Awards committee five times, and continues currently to do so.
2. Best Book on Wild West History - John Boessenecker, (San Francisco, CA) The Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquez, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK. A San Francisco attorney, John Boessenecker has a B.A. degree in history from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Since 1969 he has published numerous magazine articles on crime and lawlessness in the Old West. He is the author of Badge and Buckshot: Lawlessness in Old California (1988); The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner (1992); Lawman: The Life and Times of Harry Morse (1998); Against the Vigilantes: The Recollections of Dutch Charley Duane (1999), and Bandido: The Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquez (2010) all published by the University of Oklahoma Press, and Gold Dust and Gunsmoke (1999), published by John Wiley & Sons of New York. Boessenecker has appeared frequently as a historical commentator on PBS, The History Channel, A&E, and other television media. His most recent book, a biography of western lawman Bob Paul, is awaiting publication by University of Oklahoma Press.
3. President's Silver Star Award - Robert G. McCubbin, Santa Fe, NM. Bob McCubbin has been a Wild West aficianado since he was a teenager, and was a member of both WOLA and NOLA for many years. He accepted the challenge of becoming WWHA’s first president when the two organizations merged in 2008, serving in that capacity for the new association's first three years. Bob also was co-director of the WWHA 2010 Roundup in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center McCracken Research Library in Cody, Wyoming, for six years. Bob was primarily responsible for the concept and the implementation of the WWHA Gallery of Gunfighters, a permanent exhibit at the BBHC. He has recently completed a book with Michael and Suzanne Wallis titled The Wild West, one of Abrams Publisher's 365. series.
4. Outstanding Article on Western History - Lee Silva, (Sunset Beach, CA) "The Mysterious Morgan Earp," Wild West Magazine, October 2010. Accepting for Mr. Silva was Dr. David DeHaas of San Juan Capistrano, CA. Lee is known throughout the Old West as a researcher/writer about the weapons of the Old West and of the history of the Earp brothers. His and his late wife Sue's article in Wild West Magazine, "The Killing of Dora Hand," in the December 2009 issue was awarded WWHA's Outstanding Ariticle on Western History, published in a commercial Western magazine. This year's award is his second such awarded by WWHA in as many years. Lee's book about Wyatt Earp and his Earp brothers, from Wyatt Earp, A Biography of the Legend, Volume I, The Cowtown Years and Volume II, Part One, Tombstone Before The Earps I, have been published, and he is currently working on the following editions of this family series.
5. Outstanding Article on Western History (Scholarly and/or Historical Publications) - Jim Pettengill, (Ridgway, CO) "The Marlow Brothers' Texas Ordeal and Life in Ouray County,” Ouray County (Colorado) Historical Society Journal. James G. “Jim” Pettengill (wife Kathy), originally from Rochester, New York, earned a BS in Geology from Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, 1968, MS Geology Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff), 1971; was geologist for U.S. Dept. of the Interior for 27 years (US Geological Survey and Bureau of Land Management). He retired 1999, and moved to Ridgway, CO. Jim, a sports car enthusiast, currently freelances for Classic Motorsports magazine. He began writing western history-oriented travel articles for 4WD magazines around 1995, mostly on southwestern Colorado and central New Mexico, and does his own photography. After moving to Ridgway, he became involved with the Ouray County Historical Society and became vice-president of the Ridgway Railroad Museum (high mountain country with a rich mining and narrow gauge railroading history). Jim has written scholarly/heavily documented historical articles for the OCHS Journal, and has had published ghost town articles for Wild West Magazine on towns in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Upcoming projects include a piece for Wild West's “Western Enterprise” department on toll road and railroad builder Otto Mears; another Marlow Brothers article for the WWHA Journal, OCHS articles on the Original Cowboy Band and on Ouray lawman William Jackson "Jesse" Benton, plus two book projects. Current writing memberships are WWA, WWHA, and American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.
6. Best WWHA Journal Article - Peter Brand, (Meadowbank, NSW, Australia) “’Duty Bound’ The Story of John Wilson Vermillion and The Mystery of Tombstone’s ‘Texas Jack,’” August 2010. Accepting for Mr. Brand was Mrs. Jean Smith of Safford, AZ. Peter, an Aussie who loves American Old West history, is a frequent visitor to our western United States, coming here at least once every year to research and write about Wild West outlaws and lawmen. He has been researching the Earp Vendetta Ride for ten years, and has written several articles regarding the participants of this western historical event, which were published in both Wild West and True West magazines. Peter has authored a book titled The Life and Crimes of Perry Mallon, the con artist who tried to arrest and extradite “Doc” Holliday to Arizona from Colorado. He is currently working on a biography of the real “Texas Jack” Vermillion.
7. Outstanding Individual Contribution - Jim Miller, Clifton, CO. This award is given to Jim for his Outstanding Contribution to Wild West History, recognizing of services as former WOLA President, noted authority on the Wild Bunch, author, speaker, artist and photographer. Jim also serves as a resource person, answering questions and providing information to teachers about Western History regarding events and occurrences in local history.
8. Outstanding Corporate Contribution - The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, Duncan, Oklahoma. Awarded by WWHA for Outstanding Contribution to Wild West History in recognition of the educational video titled "The Chisholm Trail Story." Also for the life size bronze statue of cowboys, chuck wagon and longhorn cattle titled, "On the Chisholm Trail” by resident sculptor at Oklahoma University, Paul Moore, Citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Accepting
the award for the organization was Ms. Cova Williams, Museum Coordinator. http://www.onthechisholmtrail.com/
WWHA RESEARCH and WRITING GRANTS
At the Saturday evening July 30, 2011 banquet of the annual WWHA Roundup two Research and Writing Grants were announced by Grant Chair Ed Kirby. These awards are annually presented to selected applicants who are in the process of researching new and unpublished information concerning individuals or incidents in Wild West History.
9. The Phillip Steele Grant - Pat Schroeder - Lander, Wyoming. The Phillip Steele Grant of $500 was awarded to Patricia Schroeder of Lander, Wyoming, for editing assistance concerning new information to be published regarding the activities of Butch Cassidy and other Wyoming characters. Charlotte Steele, a member of the WWHA Board of Directors, from Springdale, Arkansas, contributed the grant, in honor of the late Phillip Steele, a former NOLA President.
10. Wild West History Association $1,000 Grant - Mac Blewer, Laramie, Wyoming. (Sorry, no photo available) Blewer, a graduate student in the Department of Geography at the University of Wyoming, receives funding for his efforts to improve the Butch Cassidy and Wild Bunch display at the Wyoming Territorial Prison and for his ongoing graduate research on the cultural geography, history and folklore concerning the iconic Cassidy and his associates. This award will contribute to the completion of Mr. Blewer's Master's Thesis and a book.
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In 2012 a Rex Macbeth Grant of $500 will be offered to qualified applicants. This award has been donated by Rosie Macbeth in honor of her late husband and former NOLA President. At the winter meeting of the WWHA Board of Directors in January 2012, the decision will be made concerning additional WWHA Research /Writing Grants dollar amounts. In the past individuals or groups/organizations contribute these grants, usually for one or two years, but sometimes for longer periods. Larger grants in the past were presented from the NOLA general budget although recently the larger grant has come from the WWHA general fund. Research/Writing Grant information and application procedures will be published in The Saddlebag Newsletter and on the WWHA Website prior to April 1, 2012. The grant to the successful applicant will partially or totally contribute to the items requested by that applicant, i.e., travel for research interviews, editing, writing an in-depth article, etc., etc. WWHA members and others who believe in the financial support of those who research and write new Wild West information are urged to contribute to the WWHA Grant Fund.
Ed Kirby, Chair |
