Friday, November 1, 2013

Congratulations, Courtney Wilson!


 The Mid Atlantic Association of Museums announced today that B&O Railroad Museum Executive Director Courtney Wilson will be awarded the 2013 Katherine Coffey Award at the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, DC on October 22nd at the Holiday Inn Washington‐Capitol.
The Katherine Coffey Award is given each year by the Mid‐Atlantic Association of Museums to an individual in the Mid‐Atlantic region to recognize distinguished achievement in the museum field. Recipients should demonstrate
accomplishment in their role and a record of service to the profession on state, regional, national, and/or international
levels. Recipients should also have a proven record of service to the community in which the museum is located.

“Courtney Wilson is truly one of the innovators in the museum profession today,” said Shawn Herne, Vice President of the Mid Atlantic Association of Museums. “He not only saved the B&O Railroad Museum from disaster but rebuilt it intoone of the finest transportation museums in the world. His recent efforts to save and reopen the Edgar Allan Poe Houseis just another example of his outstanding leadership abilities and commitment to the community.”

Courtney Wilson’s career has spanned three decades. His most noteworthy accomplishment has been the restoration of the B&O Railroad Museum’s historic 1884 Roundhouse after a devastating snow storm destroyed the structure on President’s Day 2003. Mr. Wilson led the salvage and restoration effort that resulted in a $20 million capital campaign and the reopening of the museum just two years later. In addition, he was tapped by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings‐Blake to re‐build, re‐brand and re‐open the Edgar Allan Poe House, another historic attraction in Baltimore.

In 2006 Governor Robert Erlich named Mr. Wilson Commander of the Maryland Defense Force. In that position he oversaw that State’s 450 personnel performing field support and ceremonial services to the Maryland Army National Guard, the Maryland Air National Guard, and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. He continued in that post
under Governor Martin O’Malley until he stepped down in August of 2012 with the rank of Major General.

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