[caption id="attachment_11261" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Kentucky Historical Society Executive Committee president Sheila Mason Burton with John Trowbridge"]
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2011) – The Kentucky Historical Society 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 John Trowbridge, recipient of the Brig. Gen. William R. Buster Award, presented annually to an individual who has sustained significant contributions to Kentucky’s military history though work, activities or support of museums or history organizations within the Commonwealth. Trowbridge, of Lawrenceburg, was nominated by Jason LeMay.
Trowbridge has spent most of his life in public service. Even during his long military career with the National Guard, Trowbridge was extensively involved with documenting and sharing Kentucky’s military history.
Trowbridge has written a variety of books and articles, has served as a military history consultant to the Jesse Stuart Foundation and has been closely involved with an array of projects that interpret Kentucky’s military history. One project that Trowbridge helped create was a documentary on the Harrodsburg Tankers on the Bataan Death March. He has received 12 awards from historical organizations across the state, including the Bluegrass Genealogy Society’s Editor Award, the Department of Defense (DoD) Award for Best DoD Documentary of the Year, and an audio-visual award from the American Association for State and Local History. Trowbridge also was involved in establishing the Kentucky War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and he serves as that commission’s vice-chair. He also is command historian for the Kentucky Army National Guard, where he continues to promote the guard’s important history.
"It is a great honor to receive this distinguished award, especially having personally known General Buster," said Trowbridge.
"This award is not about me, but about all of the men and women who have served in the military service from the Commonwealth," he said. "We must never forget the service and sacrifice made by the members of our military and I have taken on the task to ensure that never happens."
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.