Austin, TX - The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognized Bill Warren as the 2025 recipient of the Ruth Lester Lifetime Achievement Award.
Named for pioneering Texas preservationist Ruth Lester of Jefferson, this award acknowledges an individual who has made a significant, long-term contribution to historic preservation in Texas. It is one of 10 annual THC Preservation Awards recognizing individuals and organizations involved in various aspects of historic preservation.
With work crossing multiple organizations over many decades, Warren’s leadership, expertise, and dedication have made a profound impact on historic preservation in North Central Texas—particularly in Parker County.
His work and achievements include presiding over the Abandoned Cemetery Association, which now stewards 78 cemeteries in Parker County; ensuring that Weatherford’s historic preservation ordinance was passed; creating a grant program and supporting historical marker applications for the Parker County Historical Commission; and shepherding multiple projects to make history accessible to the public.
Additional organizations Warren has worked with include the Chandor Gardens Foundation (founding board member and treasurer), Millsap Heritage Society (past president and active member), Millsap Cemetery Association (active member), Parker County Heritage Society (active member), and the Weatherford Historic Preservation Commission (past presidency). He has been involved in and led dozens of important projects over four decades that will keep history alive for generations of area residents.
About Preservation Awards
The THC Preservation Awards recognize and honor those who have committed themselves to saving the real places and real stories of Texas. The awards celebrate their accomplishments and exemplary leadership in the preservation of Texas’ heritage.
The awards will be presented at the THC’s Real Places 2026 conference, April 8-10, in Austin and online. Presented by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission in partnership with Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, LLC, Real Places is the premier historic preservation and heritage tourism event in the Lone Star State. It offers world-class sessions, workshops, tours, special events, entertainment, and networking activities, while bringing together many different audiences under the banners of history, heritage, and preservation.
About the Texas Historical Commission
The THC manages 42 state historic sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state. For more information, visit thc.texas.gov.