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David McCullough has won two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Next year, the famed author will travel to Johnstown to receive his latest honor – an “outstanding achievement award” from Johnstown Area Heritage Association.
Locals say McCullough has a strong link to this area and, in addition to writing the influential 1968 book “The Johnstown Flood,” has assisted with other historical-preservation efforts.
“There is no one who has done more to share Johns-town’s fascinating history with the world than David McCullough,” said Linda Thomson, who chairs the heritage association’s awards committee.
McCullough, a Pittsburgh native who resides in Massachusetts, is scheduled to appear April 30 at the association’s heritage-preservation awards banquet.
He responded to the association with a handwritten note.
“I am happy to accept your invitation and look forward very much to coming back to Johnstown,” McCullough wrote. “It’s been a long time – too long.”
McCullough has authored books including “John Adams,” The Great Bridge,” “The Path Between the Seas,” “Mornings on Horseback,” “Brave Companions” and “Truman.”
His most recent book is “1776.” His writing has been published in 10 languages, and almost 9 million copies of his books are in print.
While “The Johnstown Flood” was released more than four decades ago, the book continues to draw people to the Flood City, said Richard Burkert, heritage association president.
“There was a powerful story there,” Burkert said.
“And David’s triumph was his ability to bring that story alive for a whole new generation of Americans.”
Burkert also said the buzz generated by McCullough’s book played a role in renewed interest in the 1889 flood story locally. It’s no coincidence, he said, that the Johnstown Flood Museum Association was founded in 1971 and Johnstown Flood Museum opened two years later.
McCullough also has been involved in other historical-preservation initiatives in this area:
• He helped with production of the Academy Award-winning flood film commissioned for the Johnstown museum.
• In 1989, he was keynote speaker at flood centennial events organized by the heritage association.
• McCullough also assisted in convincing Bethlehem Steel Corp. executives to not raze historic buildings in the former Cambria Iron complex, including a Civil War-era blacksmith shop that now is being redeveloped.
The historian wrote that “the age of steel in America can fairly be said to have begun there, and so those buildings aren’t just landmarks in the story of Johnstown, but in the history of our country.”
McCullough will receive the association’s second outstanding achievement honor; the first was awarded jointly to the late U.S. Rep. John Murtha and the National Park Service in April.
The association now is accepting nominations for next year’s heritage-preservation awards.
Officials are looking for individuals, corporations or organizations that “have contributed to preserving, celebrating or promoting Johnstown’s heritage.”
A volunteer committee will determine winners, who will be honored along with McCullough at the April ceremony.
Nominations must be postmarked by Dec. 17 and should be sent to JAHA Heritage Awards Committee, P.O. Box 1889, Johnstown, Pa. 15907.
More information on award criteria and nomination requirements is available at www.jaha.org.
Local News
Related Photos
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McCullough Submitted Photo
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