Dallas Historical Society is kicking off its second century with a new awards luncheon logo and name and introducing a new awards category while continuing to honor its traditions.

The Dallas History Makers Awards for Excellence luncheon was formerly called Awards for Excellence. The new awards category is the Dallas Historical Society’s Benefactor of the Year.

The awards were established on behalf of the Trustees of the Dallas Historical Society in 1981. Outstanding individuals and organizations are selected for this honor from nominations solicited from the Dallas community. The recipients are chosen for their contribution to the quality of life in Dallas in multiple categories, including arts leadership, creative arts, education, history, humanities, philanthropy, sports leadership, and volunteer community leadership.

Set for Nov. 17 at the Fairmont Hotel’s International Ballroom, the morning begins as guests mix and mingle before a three-course luncheon, videos honoring the award recipients sharing their often-untold stories and highlighting their contributions to Dallas, and awards presentations.

The event’s chairs are Daniel Murchison and Laura Woodall.

The event is topped off with the traditional A.C. Greene Champagne Toast.

Award honorees

The awards recipients are:

Dallas Historical Society Benefactor of the Year
Stan Graff – Committed to the Dallas Historical Society and its work in education and preservation of history, specifically Texas history;

Arts Leadership
Gail Sachson – Committed to the arts as a planner, organizer, fundraiser, collector, historian, and educator serving as chair of the Dallas Cultural Affairs Commission, founding Inspire Art Dallas and serving on countless boards benefiting the arts;

Creative Arts
Lyric Stage – Preserving and developing the great American musical with a commitment to bring exemplary productions to the heart of Dallas at the historic Majestic Theater;

Education
Dr. Carine Feyten – Chancellor of Texas Woman’s University and serving many of Dallas’ educational organizations with a deeply rooted commitment to educational excellence and equal access opportunities;

History
Talmage Boston – Dedicated to advancing historical knowledge and inspiring others to learn, enriching our understanding of the past and strengthening our connection to the present;

Humanities
Friends of Aldredge House – Supporting the operations of the Aldredge House, a living example of history and crown-jewel of Swiss Avenue, providing creative performance pieces and speaker series;

Jubilee History Maker
Michael Boone – Embodying community spirit and civic leadership that have made a positive impact on public education, the arts, and business in Dallas;

Sports Leadership
Brad Sham – The legendary radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team for over 40 years, and beloved leader in the Dallas and national sports scene;

Volunteer Community Leadership
Tori Mannes – Longtime dedication to bettering the lives of families and the future generations of Dallas through education and
leadership.

Showcasing Dallas and Texas history for more than a century

The Dallas Historical Society said it offers programs and exhibits that educate and inform visitors about their home city and reveal insights and little-known facts that might not be in history books alone, especially with the museum’s newest permanent exhibit, the interactive Texas Liberty Forever: The Battle of the Alamo diorama by Tom Freely.

Ongoing events include Brown Bag Lectures, An Evening With programs, and Pour Yourself Into History happy hours.

The Dallas Historical Society Celebrated Its Centennial Year In 2022.

The society said that the stories of Dallas are shared daily at the Dallas Historical Society through the 3 million items that comprise its archives and artifact collections.

Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves, and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations.

Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, DHS said it presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials, and workshops.

Among the artifacts at DHS are such treasures as Sam Houston’s handwritten account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the only known original Juneteenth document, James Fannin’s watch, and Santa Anna’s spurs.

The DHS collection houses more than 10,000 bound volumes and receives more than 1,500 research requests each year.

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