8 Henrys awarded for going extra mile for tourist industry

Jim Rice, senior vice president and chief operations officer of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, was named Tourism Person of the Year at the 2017 Henry Awards luncheon, held March 14 in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

A highlight of the threeday Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism, the Henry Awards honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the state’s tourism industry in the preceding year.

Kane Webb, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, served as master of ceremonies. Miss Arkansas 2016 Savannah Skidmore assisted Gov. Asa Hutchinson in presenting the eight awards.

Arkansas Living captured the Media Support Award for promoting Arkansas’ natural beauty and man-made attractions. Eureka Springs’ Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge for neglected and abused exotic and native animals won the Bootstrap Award for its achievements despite limited resources. Ozark Highlands Radio in Mountain View nabbed the Arkansas Heritage Award for perpetuating the traditions of the Ozarks region.

Oaklawn Park’s venerated Arkansas Derby, its last-dayof-the-season race for 3-yearold thoroughbred horses, won the Grand Old Classic Special Event Award. Ross Cowling of Texarkana was presented the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for going above and beyond his duties as city parks director. The Unexpected, a 10-day Fort Smith festival involving large-scale street art, was the winner of the Community Tourism Development Award. The West Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau — host of the next conference — earned The Natural State Award for its promotion of its new Big River Crossing.

Established in 1981, the Henry awards are named for Henri de Tonti, founder of Arkansas Post settlement in 1686.

Jim Rice of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau receives the Tourism Person of the Year award from Miss Arkansas Savannah Skidmore while Gov. Asa Hutchinson looks on.

Attendees included Rob Roedel, Marcia Tabor, Duane Highley, Jenny Boulden, Sheila Yount, Sandy Byrd and Bret Curry. Yount accepted an award for Arkansas Living magazine.

Daren Dortin and John Morrow, both of Mountain View, with the award-winning Ozark Highlands Radio and Tanya and Miranda Smith, both of Eureka Springs and with the award-winning Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Brandon Scott and Wayne Smith with award winner Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Jim Hamburger and Shelby Woods

David Rainey of Dumas, Troy DeBill of Altheimer and Lenore Shoults, Ashley Smith and Rachel Cherry, all of Pine Bluff