Gary Kueber of "Endangered Durham" wins 2008 Citizen Award from Independent Weekly

With the holidays taking Durhamites out of their usual routines this week, many of us may have missed seeing this week's issue of the Independent Weekly newspaper.

Worth calling out, therefore, our friend and fellow Bull City blogger Gary Kueber, who was named one of the winners of the Independent Weekly's 2008 Citizen Awards. The honor, which has been given to a handful of citizens or organizations each year since 1983, recognizes Kueber for his extraordinary work calling attention to the too-often-lost architecture in the Bull City.

Gary's done an absolutely tremendous job with "Endangered Durham," a real treasure for Durham -- and one that Durhamites fifty years from now, I suspect, will look back on itself to see what this city looked like at the dawn of the 21st century, peering at Gary's modern-day photos with a curiosity, intensity and sense of wonder akin to that which we give the sometimes hundred-year-old photos and maps that Gary documents on his blog.

One can only hope that, generations from now, they can look back on Gary's work and have difficulty comprehending it; for that would mean that Durham's penchant for tearing yesterday down to build a bland tomorrow had been replaced with a greater sense of wonder and admiration for our built history.

That so many of us are even aware of preservation in Durham is a tribute to Endangered Durham, which in the Internet era can reach folks with an immediacy and reach that even the best non-profits (and I count Preservation Durham in theat number) are hard-pressed to do.

Congrats on the good work, Gary, and keep it up -- I for one love reading your site each day.

(We'd be remiss if we didn't also mention Amanda Arrington, who also won the Indy honor for her work on the issue of dog chaining in Durham.)

Comments

[Steve Graff]

A huge thank you and congratulations to Gary for Endangered Durham, which is such an awesome resource for anybody interesting in learning about the past and present of Durham.

Also to Amanda for her amazing work in improving the lives of so many dogs.

The passion of both is an inspiration.

[Phil]

Oh man, Gary rocks. I'm so glad that the Indy chose fit to recognize his great work.

[Cal]

Wow, congratulates Gary!!

[GK]

Many thanks, Kevin, et al - I'm very, very honored by the award - and to be in the company of some amazing current and past honorees. Thanks for reading.

GK

[David McMullen]

Incidentally, I was at Morgan Imports with my wife the other day, and saw that they were selling a "Historic Durham" calendar. I immediately told my wife, "Look, it's the Gary Kueber calendar!"

I think I've seen every photo in that calendar on Gary's blog already. Good work, Gary.

[Matt]

Congrats to Gary and Amanda! Well deserved.

Quick shameless plug: also be sure to check out the profile/Q&A on Gary in the latest issue of Durham Magazine. ;)

[barry]

Hey Matt - what does one have to do to get on Durham Magazine's list?

i mean, besides pay for a subscription?

[Fern Kueber]

Amanda Arrington is a rats ass. You, in your ignorance, honored her, and now you won't print the truth about her. Her norganization, HSUS, is being investigated by the IRS, because of the fraudulent use of money. They absolutely DO NOT care about animals. All they care about is their big fat paychecks.

[Bess]

Congrats to Gary.

Amanda, however is another kind of animal. She has done more harm than good for this state with her affiliation with the money laundering, racketerring, tax evading H$US.