SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) hosted the 63rd Annual Meeting on January 24, 2026, in the Chapel at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park. SBTHP members voted to elect new members Andrew Le and Qing Xue to the board for a three-year term.
Following the election, SBTHP presented annual community awards and certificates of appreciation. William B. Dewey received the Pearl Chase Historic Preservation and Conservation Award for his decades of service to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, volunteering for many years on the Trust’s Artifacts & Exhibit Committee; The City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department received the George and Vivian Obern Preservation Stewardship Award for demonstrating outstanding preservation work in connection with the Carrillo Recreation Center Gym restoration; John Doordan received the President’s Award for his extraordinary contributions to SBTHP; Sally Foxen McNeill received the Sue Higman Volunteer of the Year Award for her numerous contributions to SBTHP events and the Once a Don Always a Don exhibit in the prior year.
The SPACE, MariaElena Lopez, received the Partnership Award for their numerous contributions to the organization’s education programs and visitor experience; Debby Aceves received the Life Honorary Director Award for her significant contributions to the organization’s mission through countless hours of volunteer service and offering her expertise and trusted perspective as a ninth-generation Presidio family descendant, nonprofit leader and cultural educator; Ron Nye was chosen as a Life Honorary Member for his sustained efforts supporting SBTHP’s historic preservation and conservation projects.
A Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to EQ25 for their partnership and collaborative work with the new exhibit at Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara 1925 – 2025: A Portrait in Maps and their larger community-wide commemoration of the 1925 earthquake that shook Santa Barbara.
2026 AWARDEES
WILLIAM B. DEWEY
Pearl Chase Historic Preservation and Conservation Award
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
George and Vivian Obern Preservation Stewardship Award
JOHN DOORDAN
President’s Award
SUE HIGMAN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sally Foxen McNeill
THE SPACE, MARIAELENA LOPEZ
Partnership Award
DEBBY ACEVES
Life Honorary Director
RON NYE
Life Honorary Member
123 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, Ca