Cleo Holden, chairwoman of Preservation Garland, Inc., was recently presented with a “Dames Who Make a Difference” award for Community Outreach of the Texas Society Colonial Dames of XVII Century.
Holden was unable to attend the gala at which she would have received the award because she was in the hospital. The Texas president, Marsha Richards, along with past national president of the organization, Carol Goeking, made a special trip to the medical facility to surprise her with the award.
Holden was honored to receive this award and it is well-deserved. She has worked tirelessly to preserve history as well as promote the downtown Garland area.
She has dedicated numerous volunteer hours advocating for historic preservation and working to save historic structures. She was a part of a group that saved the historically significant 1870s Tinsley-Lyles house from demolition and has fought for the preservation of other structures. The house is now situated at Heritage Crossing by the main branch of the Nicholson Memorial Library System on Austin Street in downtown Garland.
Holden and the other members of Preservation Garland, Inc. are currently working with Chuck Mills on the celebration ceremonies for placement and dedication of a Texas Historical Marker for the Mills Cemetery located on Commerce near the intersection of Highway 66 and Centerville Road.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m. The public is invited to join the Mills family at this historical celebration.
About: The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century unites over 11,000 members in a communion based on their interest in American history, their love and respect for this nation and a mutual desire to work together in harmonious fellowship to achieve the goals of the Society. It is one of the few societies of today which has heraldry at the core of its objectives and additionally holds one of the largest collections of Coats of Arms in the country. Moreover, compared to other lineage societies, the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century requires that potential applicants must be able to prove their ancestry in the country prior to 1701.