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Drayton Hall Executive Director Receives Award
Drayton Hall Executive Director Receives Award
Charleston- George McDaniel, executive director of Drayton Hall, was awarded the Heritage Corridor Meritorious Service Award at the 2010 International Heritage Development Conference (IHDC) last week.
This annual award is presented to partners of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor (SCNHC) who have performed extensive and invaluable service to the heritage corridor organization, especially on the county, regional and corridor level, with the goal of advancing the organization as a leader in heritage tourism development.
McDaniel was nominated and chosen by the SCNHC staff as a leader among the hundreds of volunteers and partners of the Heritage Corridor. A native of Atlanta, McDaniel holds a B.A. in history from the University of the South, an M.A.T. in history from Brown University and a Ph.D. in history from Duke University. He is currently co-chair of the S.C. Governor’s Mansion Foundation and serves on the board of directors of the International Museum of African American History. An author of numerous publications, George received an Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
At Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust in Charleston, George has devoted himself to education, historic preservation, and conservation of the Ashley River Region. In 2009, Drayton Hall won the SC Heritage Tourism Award from the S.C. Governor’s Office, the 1773 Award for Educational Services from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History.
Michelle McCollum, executive director for the SCNHC, presented the award to Mr. McDaniel at the closing luncheon of the IHDC at Charleston Place Hotel on July 1, 2010.
“As a leader in the preservation and tourism industries, we are proud to recognize George McDaniel as not only a long-time advocate for the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, but also a kindred spirit in the heritage development movement as a whole. His leadership, partnership and guidance has been a cornerstone of strength and growth for our program,” said McCollum.
The SCNHC, chosen as a National Heritage Area in 1996, extends 320 miles across the state, from the mountains of Oconee County, along the Savannah River, to the port city of Charleston. Through tourism sites, interpretative signage, travel guides and maps, the Corridor leads the visitor on a journey of experiences while telling the story of South Carolina's Native Americans, the Colonial Settlement and the western migration into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For more information on the SCNHC, visit www.sc-heritagecorridor.org.
