WV History Day '08 - Bum's Rush!

West Virginia History Day is an annual event held at the Cultural Center, Archives & History, in Charleston.

On History Day, "History Hero" awards are presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation of local or regional West Virginia history. The idea for the award was initiated by former Governor Underwood, and the governor typically presents them.

In 2005, Governor Manchin was present at the event. Despite a busy schedule and stating he couldn't stay, he spoke for at least fifteen minutes before relinquishing the hosting duties to the First Lady, Gayle. She, too, spoke at length and then presented the awards. She appeared in the individual photos of the honorees.

Assisting Mrs. Manchin that year were Robert Conte, chairman of the Archives and History Commission, and Kay Goodwin, secretary of Education and the Arts.

It was nice event. It made the History Heroes feel valued and honored. It was worth the travel time and expense required to attend because the governor and his wife spoke so eloquently and they seemed to truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the award recipients.

The 2008 History Hero event stands in stark contrast.

The event began late - after 10 a.m. - and Governor and Mrs. Manchin were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps a statement was made to explain their absence, but no one seems to have heard it.

The governor was, indeed, expected because the award notification letter stated, "Governor Joe Manchin is scheduled to present you with your History Hero certificate, with photograph to be taken."

But this is not simply about the no-show of the governor; it is about the event, in general. [His office stated to one offended honoree that he had to attend a family funeral. - That is beside the point.]

The aforementioned Robert Conte and Kay Goodwin were apparently conducting the event. Mr. Conte made some cursory remarks, which some thought would lead to the introduction of a featured SPEAKER. However, no speaker was forthcoming.

Mr. Conte immediately launched into the presentation of the awards. His tone was flat. Occasionally he made personal comments to people he knew there. All very casual. Too casual for the people who considered this an important event that should have been conducted with more dignity and ceremony.

Mr. Conte had apparently not reviewed his introductions of the honorees in advance, and he seemed ill-prepared.

That fact was certainly highlighted when he came to the nominees from the Marshall County Virtual Genealogy Society. The statement about their achievements was the longest in the printed program but they were introduced with the fewest words: "The team of James Edward Dague and Karen Dennison Hucko spent many months recording tombstone inscriptions at Mt. View Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in Marshall County." Period. The next words in the program are, "It was a challenge for James, who was born with cerebral palsy...."

All of the introductions were abbreviated, which is perfectly understandable, but theirs was probably the shortest of all. It had the effect of belittling their achievements.

The photos of the 2008 History Heroes will eventually be presented on the Archives website and may contradict this observation, but it appears in PHOTOS taken from the audience that Ms. Goodwin held the two award certificates as the photos were taken, rather than handing them to James Dague and Karen Hucko. And it does not look like she ever shook their hands. It was insulting.

Yes, James has cerebral palsy but he is a great multi-tasker. Therefore, Ms. Goodwin should not have looked so uncomfortable. James is a college graduate and is currently living in Charleston, working for the State Legislature [JAMES' OFFICE AT THE STATE CAPITOL]. He functions independently and the extent of his activities and achievements would put most of us to shame.

Please read THIS LETTER that James wrote upon hearing of his History Hero nomination.

James and Karen are certainly both qualified to hold a certificate and shake a hand. And had Mr. Conte read further, both he and Ms. Goodwin would have realized that James, the man before them, had managed to navigate the difficult terrain of the huge Marshall County cemetery and recorded nearly 2000 inscriptions!

All of the awards had been distributed by 10:35 a.m. and the History Hero program was concluded. Some - perhaps all - left feeling extremely disappointed - and certainly not honored or valued.

The following sentiment was expressed in an email by a woman in attendance: "But what I really thought was disgraceful this year was the speed with which they dispensed with the honorees. For some of the people who weren't there, only their names were mentioned, and it seemed they were lucky to get that! It just was not handled in a professional, respectful manner. It was almost like...we've got to do this but let's get it over with!!!"

Mr. Conte said there would be plenty of time to make our way to the House of Delegates, where the History Heroes were to be recognized on the House floor by the delegate from their district.

He was right about that; there was certainly plenty of time! The History Heroes were there so early that they had to wait in a crowded hallway for at least 30 minutes before the House was in session and they could enter the House Gallery.

To add insult to injury, some of the delegates failed to acknowledge the History Heroes from their districts. Had the History Hero committee conveyed the information to the delegates as they were supposed to? It is known for certain that the delegate from the 3rd District was presented with the information at least twice.

Yet, some West Virginia History Heroes sat there for more than an hour and were never acknowledged.

It was NOT an uplifting experience to witness these debacles on West Virginia History Day.

The History Hero award is important. The recipients are dedicated volunteers who love West Virginia and work their hearts out to preserve the wonderful history of the state.

When notified of a History Hero nomination, with the promise of an award from the governor, it is exciting! It is a special event! Some people buy new clothes and reserve hotel rooms. Often, families and friends are so proud that they even fly in from other parts of the country to attend the once-in-a-lifetime event.

This year, two people were honored posthumously as History Heroes. Their bereaved children and relatives came from around the country to receive the honor...

It is really a very sad day when the hard-working, unpaid preservers of the state's history are treated with such disrespect.

BOTTOM LINE: The History Heroes deserve to be treated in the same dignified and respectful manner as any other V.I.P. that walks through those doors! It is bad enough that the introductions of the honorees were so botched, but abbreviating the History Hero program and giving them the "Bum's Rush" is absolutely NOT acceptable.
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UPDATE 28 Feb 2008: TODAY, James Dague was recognized on the House Floor and the record of last Thursday's History Day was corrected. James was also given a special citation in the House Chambers. Don't know if anyone took a photo.

I thought James said yesterday that he was scheduled to be photographed with Governor Manchin, but that is not yet a fait accompli.
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UPDATE 6 March 2008

Editor, News-Register:

An open apology — but first a plea for understanding. On Feb. 21, it was History Heroes Award Day at the Legislature and I have no excuse for not recognizing Wheeling’s four History Heroes — Edward Dague and Karen Dennsion Hucko (nominated as a team), Judi Hendrickson, Wheeling; and Deborah M. Smith, Wheeling.

Please understand that as members of the West Virginia House of Delegates we do not have personal staff to do things such as open and respond to our mail, read and respond to our e-mails, read all communications and enter into our calendars important dates and appointments as to who is going to be in Charleston from our home districts. We do these things ourselves and, as an elected official from the Third Delegate District, I take my job very seriously. I attend ALL committee meetings (minor and major) and I do not miss votes. Please remember that this is the reason I was elected, to serve the constituents in my district and the state of West Virginia and this is my No. 1 priority.

Having said that, I have no excuse for missing Wheeling’s History Heroes. I would like the History Heroes and all others who have traveled from my district to Charleston but were not introduced by me, to please know how proud I am of all of you and that I am truly sorry.

In the future, if constituents would please give me a call a day or two before you are scheduled to be in Charleston and let me know when you will be arriving, I will promise that I will meet you and introduce you to the Legislature. My number at the Capitol is 304-340-3378 and my cell phone number is 304-639-4319.

Orphy Klempa

Delegate Third District
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UPDATE 9 March 2008

Seven Honored as West Virginia History Heroes
By LINDA COMINS Arts & Living Editor

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/506817.html

In case the article disappears, it is the info from the History Hero program provided at the event. The nominating organizations submitted the text.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2009. Without question, it will be a better event -- or at least it will be if Joe Geiger is in charge of it.

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UPDATE 10 March 2008

James Edward Dague was photographed with Governor Joe Manchin!