Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pa.

Champions of Battlefield Preservation

For decades, extraordinary individuals have dedicated their time, talents and voices to protecting America’s battlefields. The American Battlefield Trust honors those whose leadership, passion and unwavering commitment to preservation have safeguarded our nation’s hallowed ground, advanced historical understanding and inspired future generations.

Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award

The Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose extraordinary leadership, knowledge and dedication have left a lasting mark on the battlefield preservation movement.

Older man wearing a Civil War Trust baseball cap, gray jacket, red shirt, and plaid tie.

Edwin C. Bearss

Career Highlights
World War II Veteran, National Park Service Chief Historian, Tour Guide, Author
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2018 & 2001
Man with white hair and a white beard speaking at a podium into a microphone, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie.

The Rev. Bob Bluford

Career Highlights
World War II Veteran, Presbyterian Minister, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2013
Older man with white hair wearing a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, smiling at the camera in front of a wood-paneled wall.

Clark B. Hall

Career Highlights
Vietnam Veteran, FBI Supervisory Agent, Congressional Investigator, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2012
Man with gray hair and glasses smiling at the camera, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie.

Edward T. Wenzel

Career Highlights
Historian, Preservationist, Author
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2012
Man speaking into a microphone, wearing a dark suit, light blue shirt, and red patterned tie.

Norman D. Dicks

Career Highlights
U.S. House of Representatives Member, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2010
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Deborah Fitts

Career Highlights
Journalist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2008
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John P. “Jack” Ackerly III

Career Highlights
Lawyer, University of Virginia Rector, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2007
Man with dark hair and a mustache wearing a Civil War-era military uniform and red kepi-style cap.

Brian C. Pohanka

Career Highlights
Historian, Preservationist, Author
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2006
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Manuel Lujan Jr.

Career Highlights
U.S. House of Representatives Member, Secretary of the Interior, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2006
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Carrington Williams

Career Highlights
World War II Veteran, Lawyer, Virginia House of Delegates Member, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2003
Man with white hair, glasses, and a white beard pointing at something, wearing a dark jacket and blue shirt.

Jerry L. Russell

Career Highlights
Preservationist, Public Relations Specialist, Political Consultant
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2002
Man wearing a National Park Service uniform and broad-brimmed ranger hat, outdoors against trees and a blue sky.

Dennis E. Frye

Career Highlights
National Park Service Historian, Preservationist
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2001
Smiling man wearing a broad-brimmed National Park Service ranger hat and green uniform, outdoors in a wooded setting.

Donald C. Pfanz

Career Highlights
National Park Service Historian, Interpreter, Preservationist, Author
Award
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award
Inducted
2001

American Battlefield Trust Preservation Champions

Preservation Champions come from all walks of life — authors, activists, historians, journalists, philanthropists, public servants and others united by a commitment to protecting America’s battlefields. Through advocacy, leadership, scholarship, philanthropy and service, they have gone above and beyond to safeguard the places where our nation’s history unfolded.