Oct. 2, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Turner
304-558-2288, ext. 341
mturner@callwva.com

Long-time state parks leader receives state’s highest tourism honor

CHESTER – Retired West Virginia state parks chief Cordie O. Hudkins received the Oshel Craigo Lifetime Achievement Award at the conclusion of the West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort today.

The award, which is the highest honor given by the West Virginia Tourism Commission, honors individuals whose support for the tourism industry over many years have helped the industry to grow and establish itself as an important economic development tool for West Virginia. Persons nominated for this award must have demonstrated continued and long-term leadership, benevolence or contributions to the growth and success of the entire state’s tourism industry. Hudkins began working for the state parks in 1965, and was state parks chief from 1990 to 2000.

“Cordie Hudkins’ service to West Virginia State Parks is one of the reasons we are recognized nationwide for having some of the finest public recreation areas anywhere,” said Betty Carver, commissioner of the Bureau of Commerce. ”I don’t think there’s anyone in this industry who would doubt the incredible impact our state parks have on West Virginia’s image and economy, and Cordie has been a major part of that growth.”

Gail Lowry Price, director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was named Tourism Professional of the Year, an award that recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution that enriches West Virginia’s tourism industry through outstanding job performance, leadership in the tourism industry or development and improvement of tourism facilities and activities.

The awards are part of Stars of the Industry program that each year recognizes the best in West Virginia tourism promotion, growth and media coverage. Additional Stars of the Industry categories and first place winners are as follows.

MEDIA AWARDS

• Best print article – Three-way tie among “Riding the Midland Trail” by Beth Gorczyca, which appeared in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch on Nov. 10, 2002; “Getting an Education in Wheeling,” by Jerry V. Haines, which appeared in The Baltimore Sun on Nov. 24, 2002; and “Discovering West Virginia’s Highlands,” by D. Gail Fleenor, which appeared in Blue Ridge Country magazine in June 2003.
• Best Print Photography/Layout – “Fall Mountain Splendor, West Virginia Style,” by Thomas R. Fletcher, which appeared in Blue Ridge Country magazine’s September-October 2002 issue.
• Best Web/Internet/E-magazine Article – “Firsthand Report,” a series of on-location reports about the region’s ski areas, by John Sherwood and M. Scott Smith, which appeared on DCSki.com
• Best Broadcast Coverage – “Traveling West Virginia,” a series of in-state travel features and destination reports by Brad Rice of WCHS-TV and WVAH-TV.

ADVERTISING AWARDS

• Best Print Advertising – West Virginia State Parks’ in-state newspaper inserts, by Johanna K. Ellis and Charles Ryan Associates.
• Best Broadcast Advertising – “Yeager Airport Inflight Video,” by Inflight Media Associates.
• Best Web Site – www.bestwesternwvirginia.com, Best Western Hotels of West Virginia, by Mike Luna and Susan Fearnside.

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

• Spirit of West Virginia Award – New River Neo-tropical Festival, Fayetteville. This recognizes a group or community that promotes West Virginia tourism development and enhances pride while preserving cultural, historical or natural heritage and beauty.
• Mountain State Award – Appalachian Coal Town Christmas and Light Festival, Beckley. This recognizes the event that stands above the rest in excellence in programming, quality, distinctiveness, marketing efforts and impact on the state’s economy or image.
• West Virginia Community Tourism Development Award – Greater Morgantown Riverfront Development Project, Morgantown. This recognizes the community or organization that has enhanced its local resources through multi-business cooperative, imaginative and innovative development efforts.
• Mountaineer Award – Jeanne Mozier. This recognizes imaginative and innovative marketing and advertising programs and effective use of the media to gain the most attention and notoriety for an event or destination, with limited resources.
• Tourism Professional of the Year – Gail Lowry Price, Pocahontas County CVB
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Cordie O. Hudkins, retired state parks’ chief

Please see this slide presentation for judges' comments, as well as second- and third-place winners.

A complete listing of all winners, photographs, descriptions of the award categories and requirements, as well as previous winners may be found online beginning Oct. 3, at www.callwvanews.com or www.callwva.com/awards/winners.cfm.

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