Distinguished Service Award
2024
To: Lawrence Claude Billings
Through the years Larry has been a major font of archeological and historic information for residents in Baxter County. He was a founding member of the Three Rivers Chapter and is a guiding light for the Baxter County Historical Society. He publishes articles in the Baxter County Historical Societies newsletter. Larry regularly attends the meetings and special events that the Arkansas Archeological Society, the Historical Society and others, such as the Jacob Wolf House National Historic site, hoping to advance preservation of archeological sites and spread knowledge about them to people of all ages. When he attends, he doesn’t just sit and watch, he actively engages the public and other archeologists by sharing portions of his collection and speaking with people about the value of recording sites. He clearly conveys how and why it is important it is to label, curate, and study artifacts. Through his activities over the last 30 plus years, Larry Billings has quintessentially represented the Arkansas Archeological Society in a very tangible way. Based on the many positive ways in which he has served the Society, Lawrence (Claude) Billings is very deserving of the Distinguished Service award.
2023
To: David Jeane
David Jeane has been a member of the Society and a Survey employee during his over-four decades in archeology. He attended every Training Program between the early 1980s and 2022, helping dig sites all over the state and also helping to teach newcomers about doing archeology. He has, in his retirement, worked on documenting 1930s digging at the Crenshaw site, assembled dozens of broken vessels acquired by the SAU Station over the years, served in the BOA for this station repeatedly, and has been a font of institutional knowledge about the archeology of southwest Arkansas. He continues to show his passion for Arkansas archeology in conversations about past work and providing insight to younger generations of archeologists.
2018
To: Gary Knudsen
Since his retirement with the USFS, Gary Knudsen has been a tireless member of the Arkansas Archeological Society. Starting (at least) in 2011 at the AAS Summer Training Program in Historic Washington State Park, Gary has been an area supervisor for 7 AAS digs–not to mention his involvement in other, smaller dig (such as supervising for my own Spring Break Dig in 2015 at Cane Hill). I will especially call attention to the “above and beyond” the call of duty that Knudsen performed at the 2018 AAS Summer Training Program at Pea Ridge National Military Park. There Gary supported our ARAS Outreach Coordinator Dr. Melissa Zabecki in supervising an area full of middle and high school kids from the Thaden School in Bentonville.
Gary is always patient, friendly and firm with the volunteers he supervises. Moreover, he always works well after the volunteers have moved on to make sure the excavations he supervised get proper archeological documentation. For these seven years of supervisory service–and his new role as Chair of the Board of Advisors–I nominate Gary Knudsen for the Distinguished Service Award.
2017
To: Don Bragg
Don Bragg was the President of the Tunican Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society from 2008 to 2009. He committed 9 years to leading the Chapter. He was an author on the Tunican Chapter and Desha County 4-H’s “From Field to Report” project. He is an active site steward and an advocate for protecting sites on timber company land. Don commits hundreds of volunteer hours assisting with archeological field and lab projects as well as public outreach activities for the UAM Research Station and other projects around the state. The mission of the Survey and the Society is to conduct research and communicate that research to and with the public. Don Bragg embodies that mission with his commitment to helping with that research, sharing the results, and advocating for the preservation of sites.
2016
To: Peggy Lloyd
Peggy Lloyd has been a Society member since 1992, and has taken part in numerous field and laboratory projects, and continues to do so. In addition to her long membership, Peggy served as Recording Secretary from 1997-2000. She also served numerous terms on the Board of Advisors for the SAU station. She recently retired from the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives (SARA), in Washington. In her capacity as Archival Manager there, Peggy helped with research, coordinated preservation efforts, and made connections between people interested in historical and archeological issues. Outside of formal projects, Peggy has helped to familiarize staff from the Survey with the history of the region, drawn together interested parties from the public and state agencies, and offered her incomparable mastery of southwest Arkansas’s historical connections to all. Peggy’s work on the Block Six, Dooley’s Ferry, Elkins’ Ferry, Samuels-Turner House and other projects have been invaluable, both in providing the basis for fieldwork and assisting in interpreting the findings. She assisted with gathering information on the Carden Bottoms collection in preparation for the Society Dig there. Her work with the Nevada County Depot and Museum as curator and as author for the Hope Star has helped bring Arkansas heritage to the surrounding community. She has been an active part of the efforts to preserve the Elkins’ Ferry Battleground and a prominent member of the Camden Expedition Scenic Byway organization.
2015
To: Mary Ann Goodman
Mary Ann Goodman received the Distinguished Service Award for her continued commitment to Arkansas archeology, as she has shown in many, many ways over the past 30 years. We can point to her service to the Arkansas Archeological Society, as she served as president and held several other offices, she was a long-time member of the Archeological Research Fund committee, she supervised in both field and lab at numerous annual Training Programs, and she has been the local arrangements chair planning the 2015 meeting in Hot Springs. We can highlight her service to the Ouachita Chapter, as she has served in multiple offices for the chapter, and recently has been the one who arranges for the excellent speakers and programs at the monthly meetings. Mary Ann Goodman provides ongoing contributions to Arkansas archeology in the form of her volunteer work at the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s HSU Research Station in Arkadelphia. She also volunteers at the Ouachita National Forest archeology lab in Hot Springs, continuing to work with Meeks Etchieson (even though he is now retired and is a volunteer too). During archeology lab days in Arkadelphia, she has contributed over 5000 hours in the last 15 years, cataloguing, sorting, analyzing, and documenting artifacts from projects such as the Caddo Valley Mound salvage, the Jones Mill Society Digs, the Hedges Mound reanalysis, JEC Hodges Collection Vessel documentation, and the Montgomery County Society Digs. With her experience, she is able to teach other volunteers in the lab. With her sense of humor, she makes our lab days fun. The Arkansas Archeological Survey, Arkansas Archeological Society, and the people of Arkansas have benefited from her considerable work.
2014
To: Robert Taylor
Since 1998, Robert Taylor has donated thousands of hours in the laboratory of the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s Jonesboro Station. The focus of much of his lab work has been devoted to identifying and analyzing ceramics from numerous sites excavated by the Arkansas Archeological Society and Survey, including Greenbrier (3IN1), Buffalo Dead Slough (3GE6), Krebs Place (3CG453), Jarrett (3RA95), Bruce Catt (3CY91) among others. Robert managed the FSN log at Jarrett, while Society members excavated. He helped during field work at numerous sites, including 3CY91, 3DA95, and 3RA292 (Grigsby). Robert has published several articles in Field Notes and the Arkansas Archeologist. Robert Taylor has helped to refine the chronology of the Mississippi in NE Arkansas through detailed ceramic analysis. He has donated at least 4000 hours toward this effort alone. Robert has allowed for the salvage and excavation of data which has enhanced our knowledge of NE Arkansas archeology and Native American lifeways. Long before 1999 when he first began volunteering in the ASU lab, involved in Arkansas archeology in a number of capacities and conducted survey, testing and excavations across the state under a number of supervisors including Drs. Schambach, Morse, and Rolingson.
2012
To: Glen and Jannette Akridge
Glen Akridge has been a member of the Society since 1986, when he was 14 years old. This was about the time when he participated in the excavations at the Rockhouse Cave site on Petit Jean Mountain. This was his first excavation experience and he must have enjoyed the experience, because he has continued to this day an extraordinary level of involvement in the Society. He has served as President of the Kokoci Chapter and as Vice President and President of the Society. Glen took over the responsibility of Editor of The Arkansas Archeologist in 2004 and secured funding for it through the EBSCO. He has also been our Webmaster for approximately 10 years! Jannette Akridge became a member of the Society in 1995. She currently serves as Treasurer for the Society and has done a wonderful job. Under Jannette’s guidance, the Society’s special funds have been reorganized to make more efficient use of donations. She and Glen were instrumental in planning and organizing the Annual Meeting for the Society’s 50th Anniversary. The two of them have provided the Society with a high level of stability and guidance over the years and, quite frankly, I’m not sure what we would do without them.
2011
To: Paul and Marilyn Knapp
Their unparalleled service as supervisors during the 2011 Arkansas Archeological Society Summer Training Program at Historic Washington. Paul & Marilyn have served as supervisors for the annual training program for several years now, but this year they were truly integral to pulling off a successful excavation. Paul and Marilyn were saddled with Supervising “Area A” the largest and most expansive excavation area on the site (Historic Washington State Park)– they were supervising more units than any single professional on the site…and almost as much as all the professionals put together. In addition to their duties as excavation area supervisors, Paul & Marilyn lent their general logistics knowledge to the dig — informally supervising everything from getting water to ALL the excavation areas to organizing after hours social functions that help boost morale and create a feeling of camaraderie during the excessively hot dig. They are truly models for all Society members.
2010
To: Vernon Perry
Mr. Perry has been a long-time member of the Kadohadacho Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society – in fact, he was present at the first Kadohadacho meeting in 1970. He has taken part in numerous Arkansas Archeological Society digs (Johnny Ford, Old Davidsonville, Ferguson, Old Washington, etc.) and other volunteer excavations (Cedar Grove, Cedar Lake testing, Crenshaw). Beyond these basic efforts, Mr. Perry has been an asset to the Society by serving many, many times in various chapter offices and on the AAS-SAU Board of Advisors. Mr. Perry has been a huge help to the Arkansas Archeological Survey by helping process numerous collections in the lab and through the repair of numerous reconstructible ceramic vessels (such as the pots recovered from the Grandview excavations). Above and beyond the call of duty, Mr. Perry has helped move the SAU station’s collections (over 2000 boxes worth) at least three times. Additionally, he has also been an immeasurable help to the new AAS-SAU Station Archeologist in helping to familiarize him with the southwest Arkansas station territory.
2009
To: Alan Smith
Alan spent the better part of his year designing and building a water screen system that was the talk of the dig. His willingness to spend the time to design and build this system, places him at the head of the class. Alan’s contribution allows for not only easier water screening but also is designed to be portable. It may be moved to other sites or stations when needed. It also allows for water screening large amounts of material in a short period of time. An added bonus is that the operator(s) do not get wet in the process.
2006
To: Janice Dent
Janice Dent has served the Society in numerous capacities. She has served as an Executive Officer, helped plan Society activities, made changes to the Constitution, and is a stalwart attendant of the annual Training Program. But she is perhaps best known for her long-standing devotion to the Archeological Research Fund (ARF). Dent chairs the committee which evaluates research grant proposals to ARF and oversees the monetary distribution. To help raise money for ARF, Dent coordinates a silent auction of books and other items at every Annual Meeting, which has significantly increased the Fund’s assets. Her work with ARF has greatly benefitted research into Arkansas archeology.