Facchines Honored By Historical Society

February 07, 2007 at 2:47 PM

evo__ann_2.jpg       

Evo and Ann Facchine

       The DuBois Area Historical Society honored Evo and Ann Facchine of DuBois during its annual banquet commemorating the Society’s 25 th anniversary.

       Evo Facchine received two awards – a Founder’s Plaque and the 2006 Man of the Year Award. Ann Facchine was named 2006 Woman of the Year.

       The Founders Plaque for Evo Facchine, the Society’s current president, recognized his efforts in the establishment of the DuBois Area Historical Society in 1982. Facchine was serving as president of the DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce and during the Chamber’s annual meeting on Feb. 6, 1982, announced several new projects including a historical society. Two days later at the Chamber’s meeting, a motion by Lou Barsi and seconded by Ed Brubaker to form the DuBois Area Historical Society was passed.

       The DuBois Area Historical Society’s first contact with the public came during an inaugural banquet, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1982, at the DuBois Country Club, held as one of the events for the third Tom Mix Festival. Facchine, the first to speak at that dinner, said, “What has been done so far was the easy part of the project. Time, energy, and money will be needed if the project is to be successful.”

       Facchine went on to serve as the treasurer on the initial DuBois Area Historical Society executive board.

       The Man of the Year Award was presented to Evo Facchine for his work since becoming the Society’s president in 2003. Among the projects completed during his time as president are construction of a new picture gallery area in the museum, the revision of the Society’s constitution, encouraged the forming of committees, the completion of two more books published by the Society, reinstating the Society’s newsletter, and initiating the “Looking Back” column that appears in The Courier-Express.

       Ann Facchine was recognized as Woman of the Year for her countless volunteer hours over the past several years. She has offered her skills by typing the “Looking Back” column to submit to The Courier Express, typing letters and other projects such as the program for the annual dinner, assisting with mailings and record keeping, and many other projects.

       Previous winners of these awards include: 1994 – Todd Thompson; 1995 – E. D. Reitz; 1996 – Marv Bloom and Gail King; 1997 – Diane Bernardo; 1998 – Tom and Virginia Schott; 1999 – Dr. George Nye and Nellie Beer; 2001 – Audrey Lott; 2002 – Beecher Klingensmith and Carol Johnson, 2003 – Dave Beer and Judy Leech, 2004 – Ken Wiser and Barb Emmer, and 2005 – Ed and Jerri Watson.

       Also at the dinner, approval was given to two year terms for the following members of the Society’s executive committee: 2 nd vice president - Tom Schott; treasurer - Jerry Watson ; secretary -Gene Aravich ; genealogy - Audrey Lott ; museum/curator - Beecher Klingensmith ; representative for Treasure Lake - Robert DuBois; representative for Falls Creek: Ken Wiser ; librarian - Virginia Schott ; representative for Brady/ Bloom Township - Jean Hayes ; representative for Houston Township - Linda Riccadonna ; and representative City of DuBois - Jackie Syktich

       Fifty-five members and guests attended the annual dinner. The guest speaker was Dr. Todd Pfannestiel, associate professor of history at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He showed film clips to highlight his presentation, “Rhett, Dorothy, and Mrs. Smith: Motion Pictures and American Values in the Great Depression.”



Tags:
Category: News