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October 22, 2002 at 8:24 PM

       Beecher Klingensmith and Carol Johnson were honored as the DuBois Area Historical Society’s “Persons of the Year” at the Society’s 21^st Annual Dinner Meeting. The dinner meeting was held at the DuBois Senior Center.

       Klingensmith is a longtime member of the Society. He was elected to the position of curator at the Society’s September meeting. Klingensmith previously served three terms as second vice president. He devotes many volunteer hours to the Society, conducting tours and helping with the museum and genealogical library.

        Johnson was recognized for her work with the genealogical research. She has devoted many hours to establishing the Society’s genealogical library. Much of her work is devoted to keeping track of and filing information on deaths, births, and marriages for families in the DuBois Area Historical Society Area. She is also a past member of the Society’s executive board, serving as a regional representative.

        Outgoing President Audrey Lott presented the awards to Klingensmith and Johnson. Previous Person of the Year recipients are:  Todd Thompson, 1993-94; E.D. Reitz, 1994-95; Gail King and Marv Bloom, 1995-96; Diane Bernardo, 1996-97; Tom and Virginia Schott, 1997-98; Nellie Beer and Dr. George Nye, 1998-99; and Audrey Lott, 1999-00.

         E.D. Reitz, the Society’s immediate past president, presented two special awards. The awards recognized Director of Genealogy Emeritus Shirley Clark of DuBois and Curator Emeritus Dr. George Nye of DuBois. They are the only people granted emeritus status by the DuBois Area Historical Society board of directors.

         Clark served as the Society’s director of genealogy for the past eight years. She is also a past president of the Society.

         Nye was the curator for seven years helping to establish the Society’s museum and cataloging its collection. He is also a past president of the Society.

         Incoming President Evo Facchine.announced several projects to improve the Society’s buildings. This will include the renovating for storage of a room on the upper floor of the Nye Annex (former Lowe’s building), and establishing a photo and map Gallery in the Nye Annex.

         Facchine also accepted a donation of $500 from the DuBois Women’s Club. Club President Jenny Matusik and secretary Alvira Bandyk presented the money.

         Scott Hangartner of DuBois was the dinner speaker focusing on“A History of Bigfoot in Pennsylvania and Around the World,”

         Upcoming historical society meetings:  Nov. 19 - Louis E. Sewell, Grand Cheminot of Pennsylvania’s Forty et Eight (veterans of World War I) organization; and in 2003:Feb. 26 – Bill Hand, “Major McCreight, an Early 20^th Century DuBois Leader”; March 13 – Gary Gilmore, “Presettlement  Forests:  What John DuBois Saw”; April 3 – Jeanne Curtis, “Making Pysanky” (Ukranian Easter eggs); May 29 – Galen Kilmer, “DuBois Area High School Local History Projects.” All are free at 7:30 p.m. in the E.D. Reitz Museum, 30 W. Long Ave., DuBois.