Kentucky Historical Society
Betty Dobson of Paducah Wins 2011 Kentucky History Award from KHS

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 21, 2011) – The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) honored outstanding achievements in the field of Kentucky history at the 2011 Kentucky History Celebration on Nov. 11 at the Old State Capitol in downtown Frankfort.

Among this year’s winners was Betty Dobson, recipient of the Award of Distinction, presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to state and local history as a volunteer, board member or member of an organization. Dobson was nominated by James W. Hank for her project “The Hotel Metropolitan.”

Dobson is co-founder of Paducah’s Uppertown Heritage Foundation. This organization works to save and collect the history of the Paducah area and to preserve historical structures in Uppertown.  Part of her efforts involved saving The Hotel Metropolitan, a historically African-American hotel from 1909 until the 1970s. Dobson was responsible for securing grants to save and restore this piece of Kentucky’s history.

Dobson was also responsible for creating a committee called Friends of the 8^th, which raised money for a historical marker to commemorate the 8^th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, which fought at Paducah during the Civil War. Under Dobson’s leadership, funds were raised and the marker was presented to the community.

The Kentucky History Awards program, presented annually by KHS, recognizes exceptional achievements in Kentucky history by individuals, business and civic leaders, communities, museums and history organizations throughout the Commonwealth. The program also honors individuals and groups that have demonstrated efforts to promote the preservation, awareness and appreciation of state and local history.
For more information about the Kentucky History Awards visit www.history.ky.gov/historyawards.

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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, established in 1836, is committed to helping people understand, cherish and share Kentucky's history. The KHS history campus includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit www.history.ky.gov.