Historical Preservation Group
 Hall of Heroes

Some people have a strong connection to their heritage and demonstrate it by outstanding acts of generosity and/or outstanding support to preservation projects.  The Historical Preservation Group is proud to recognize these people for their tremendous contributions to preserve Lenoir County's heritage.  Induction into the Hall of Heroes is the highest honor that HPG can bestow.

Definition of hero: a person prominent in some event, field, period, or cause by reason of his special achievement or contributions.  Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

 BREWER FAMILY

Wlliam and Marsha Brewer
William Brewer,  Jr
Barbara Hankins
Elizabeth B. Watson
Carolyn B. Whitfield

HARPER GIRLS
Barbara Novicki
Susan Glover 
Frances Gooden
Nancy Satterfield

January 29, 2011
By virtue of extraordinary generosity demonstrated by the donating of First Battle of Kinston Civil War Battlefield Properties, the following have been designated
Historical Preservation Group Heroes.
 

                                     Dennis Jones
                                Kay Ogle
                            Laura Spence 

June 22, 2012
By virtue of extraordinary generosity demonstrated by their tremendous contributions to preserve Jones County's heritage with the work on three volumes  of Jones County Cemetery Books. It proved to have been an enormous project and qualifies them worthy of induction into the Historical Preservation Group Hall of Heroes.  Their outstanding achievement includes work done over a period of years of giving of their time and resources to gather cemetery information, GPS and pictures from numerous cemetery locations.  Plus their efforts to compile all the data and edit the three Jones County Cemetery volumes with no financial gain to themselves.

        Dr. Keats Sparrow
                                 Inducted Posthumously November 2, 2012                      

Dr. W. Keats Sparrow. Dean Emeritus of East Carolina University’s Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, passed away on November 11, 2009. His many contributions to the preservation and writing of our history are numerous.

His many contributions included:
Served as President;
              Pitt County Historical Society
            North Carolina Literary and Historical Association
            North Carolina Huguenot Society.
At the time of his death,
              President of the Carolina Charter Corporation
            A sponsor of the second series of the North Carolina       Colonial Records Publication Project
            Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of N. C..
For many years he served  on:
              Tryon Palace Commission
            Historic Bath Commission
            North Carolina State Capitol Foundation Board
He had been a member of the First Flight Centennial Commission
He held membership in:
              The Order of First Families of North Carolina
            Lenoir County Historical Association
            North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati.
            Lenoir County Colonial Commission.
Many of his varied works and services earned awards and citations.
             The 2001 Christopher Crittenden Memorial Award for Significant Contributions to the Preservation of North Carolina History.
In 2007 Sparrow was presented with the Roberts Award for his role in establishing the celebrated North Carolina Literary Review
           
In 2008, the North Carolina Society of Historians’ History Book Award for his edition of The First of Patriots and Best of Men: The Public Life of Richard Caswell.

He was inducted as a member;
             The North Caroliniana Society
           Order of St. John
           Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Dr. Keats Sparrow qualifies for Hall of Heroes for his contributions to preserving our history by sharing his knowledge, participating in numerous history projects and his extraordinary generosity, demonstrated without receiving financial gain, of his time, efforts and love for the preservation of our history.
 

                                      
                      Dr. Lonnie Blizzard

Dr. Lonnie Blizzard, retired Lenoir Community College president, is an avid historian of Civil War history and particular that part of the history that pertains to Lenoir County.  During his tenure at LCC he helped to develop Heritage Place into a leading library for local history and genealogy research.  The Blizzard Family even donated to Heritage Place a number of artifacts that gives an insight into life on the farm in by gone days.

His interest in history led him to get involved in the Civil War battlefield preservation work that the Historical Preservation Group began ten years ago.  During that time he became a member of the Lenoir County Battlefield Commission that serves under the auspice of the Historical Preservation Group.

His interest in what was being done was demonstrated by his leadership performances during many battlefield projects.  I can still see this white collared man wearing a plaid shirt and slinging a chainsaw in the Rivermont section of the Kinston Battlefield in preparation and readying for a reenactment.  He worked long hours on that site for a living history event that drew thousands.

He spent days with young Wil King as they together explored woods and walked across fields in their quest to explore and map the First Battle of Kinston battlefield.

He was designated special projects chairman and took charge of the first development on the Kinston battlefield with the Memorial Site located behind King’s Restaurant. Today it is one of the most attractive and historical site in Kinston.

Lonnie traveled and attended with several of us meetings on planning for bringing Civil War Trails, Inc. into North Carolina and to Kinston.  He not only helped to erect Civil War trails markers in Lenoir County but also the interpretive sign for the Kinston Hangings.

His research has made him the leading authority on the First Battle of Kinston.  His many presentations and speaking engagements on the Kinston Battle are testament to that.

Dr. Blizzard was the man that had the vision for our beautiful Visitors Center for the location where it is located today. As a member of the Battlefield Commission he played a major role in making that vision becomes a reality and the center displaying Civil War artifacts and information.

Lonnie helped to write the First Battle of Kinston Battlefield Driving Tour brochure and he has been a tour guide for many groups that have visited the Kinston Battlefield.

Dr. Blizzard has written a history of the First Battle of Kinston and it has been published and can also be found on the HPG web site.

Once the Historical Preservation Group acquired the Harriet’s Chapel/Starr’s Battery property Dr. Blizzard got into high gear and the development of this sight was underway.  As the chairman of this special project:
     *site preparation took place,
     *acquiring the church building and moving it to this location was done,
     *he oversaw the restoration of the church, and
     grounds beautification

Lonnie served on the Lenoir County Heritage Tourism and is a member of the Lenoir County Historical Association and the Lenoir County battlefields Commission.

Dr. Blizzards many contributions and hard work are greatly appreciated by HPG and this is why he has been selected to become a member of its Hall of Heroes.