Local Legend Horace Livingston to be Nominated for Hall of Fame
History of the Heartland and the African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society Museum of Illinois plan to place the name of Horace Livingston to be considered for the Decatur Hall of Fame this fall. The plan to nominate Mr. Livingston is being announced now as part of Historic Preservation Week in Decatur.
History of the Heartland leadership has reviewed the criteria provided by the Chamber of Commerce and Livingston qualifies. Horace “Buck” Livingston (1921-2014) was a local civil rights leader that made his voice heard via The Voice Newspaper. He also used the paper to keep the African American Community informed. He pushed for school integration. He stood for rights without violence similar to Martin Luther King Jr.
With an official proclamation read and signed by Mayor Julie Moore-Wolfe on May 3
rd, Historic Preservation Week in Decatur will be celebrated May 16th- 22
nd with a full week’s worth of activities beginning Sunday.
The annual event is sponsored by History of the Heartland. Members of the committee have reached out to numerous organizations involved in historic preservation and beautification to offer opportunities to participate during the activities of the week and beyond. The goal of the organization is to promote local history and historic preservation & beautification, become a clearinghouse of information to assist with future community efforts, and shine the spotlight on projects and success stories. The vision includes enhanced community awareness and engagement to assist in preserving our rich history and beautification of the community.
DECATUR â The purpose of Historic Preservation Week is to bring history to life.
âWe have daily stories that point to historic places, historic homes, people, businesses, business men, business women, that have really built Decatur,â said Ayn Owens, History of the Heartland Co-project chairwoman. âYou donât want to forget those people.â
May is Historic Preservation Month. Last yearâs plans to celebrate were altered by the pandemic, Owens said. âWe really didnât have the opportunity, so we just had it in August, which allowed us some more time for planning,â she said.
Organizers are not letting the month pass by again.