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HomeNewsOutstanding Tennessee Battlefield advocates honored by National Historic Preservation Group

Outstanding Tennessee Battlefield advocates honored by National Historic Preservation Group

Civil War Preservation Trust recognizes Tennessee champions of battlefield preservation

Civil War Preservation TrustFranklin, TN – During a ceremony this morning at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, the national Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) recognized two battlefield advocacy groups and a long-time Tennessee preservation official with Chairman’s Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation. The awards, presented by CWPT Chairman John L. Nau, III, honored the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, the Battle of Franklin Trust, and Tennessee Wars Commission director Fred Prouty.

According to Nau, the recipients are among CWPT’s most valuable partners in protecting and interpreting significant Civil War sites.  “Without the dedicated efforts of outstanding allies at the state and local levels, the work of this organization would be immeasurably more difficult.  These individuals and organizations represent the very finest efforts and intentions of the historic preservation movement and deserve our profound gratitude,” he said.

(From L-R):  Civil War Preservation Trust Chairman John L. Nau, III, recently honored Tennessee Wars Commission Director Fred Prouty with a Chairman’s Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation for his work to help restore and preserve Tennessee’s battlefields.
(From L-R): Civil War Preservation Trust Chairman John L. Nau, III, recently honored Tennessee Wars Commission Director Fred Prouty with a Chairman’s Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation for his work to help restore and preserve Tennessee’s battlefields.

Since 1994, the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association has worked to promote battlefield preservation initiatives in the Volunteer State. In addition to raising funds to protect Civil War battlefields, promoting their preservation and interpretation and providing an ongoing battlefields assessment program, the nonprofit group facilitates a statewide network of local advocacy and education organizations.  TCWPA is a frequent collaborator in CWPT acquisition projects and has taken an active role in planning and executing state sesquicentennial activities.

The Battle of Franklin Trust was formed in 2009 as a joint venture to manage and promote Franklin’s two premier Civil War sites, Carnton Plantation and the Carter House. By forming a strategic alliance to enhance the visitor experience by offering comprehensive battlefield tours, combination tickets and seamless integration between the two sites, the group has created a model for cooperation between related historic sites across the country. The innovative approach facilitates partnerships with government bodies and other preservation groups, while simultaneously creating opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness in interpretation and management.

Fred Prouty is the director of the Tennessee Wars Commission, which has authority over battlefields associated with all wars fought across the state and is responsible for organizing and facilitating land acquisition and easements at those sites. In this capacity he is an integral figure in nearly every battlefield preservation effort that occurs in the state. Additionally, Prouty is an active member of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission.

Beyond his involvement with CWPT, Nau is the immediate past chairman of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Texas Historical Commission. He serves in leadership capacities with a variety of charitable entities and is president and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products and the number one beer distributor in Texas.

About the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT)

CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s remaining Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism. Since 1987, the organization has helped save more than 29,000 acres of battlefield land, including nearly 2,200 acres in Tennessee. The CWPT website is located at www.civilwar.org.

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