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Joplin Historic Preservation Commission ratifies 2025 preservation award recommendations
Summary
The commission accepted the awards committee’s recommendations for three preservation awards — a Murphysburg recognition, the Jeff & Carolyn O'Neil award, and the Leslie Simpson award — and scheduled the presentation for May 1 at Frisco Station.
The Joplin Historic Preservation Commission voted April 29 to accept its awards committee’s recommendations for the 2025 preservation awards and scheduled the presentation for May 1 at Frisco Station.
Thomas, the commission’s staff lead, told members the committee received a low number of nominations this year — four total — but judged the entries against the awards’ intent and selected recommended recipients. The commission ratified the slate by voice vote after a brief discussion and confirmation that committee deliberations had been thorough.
The committee’s recommendations were: Jeff Bussey for the Murphysburg award for work rehabilitating historic homes; David Glenn for the Jeff & Carolyn O’Neil award for a commercial preservation project that included moving and reassembling a historic train-station interior; and sisters Emily and Kay Ellis for the Leslie Simpson award in recognition of long-running local preservation programming. Thomas said the committee noted the Murphysburg nomination lacked interior photos but accepted the entry on the basis of visible exterior rehabilitation and craftsmanship.
Members discussed one close contest for the Leslie Simpson award between Ricky (Renee) Smith, noted for cemetery preservation work, and the Ellis sisters. Commissioners agreed the Ellis nomination was more thoroughly documented for Joplin specifically and moved to accept the committee’s ranking. The motion to accept the committee’s recommendations was made by Chad Bruckner and seconded by Miss Hallbach; the commission approved it by voice vote.
Commissioners confirmed the awards presentation will occur at 4 p.m. May 1 at Frisco Station and invited committee members to attend. Thomas said he will follow up with nominees and nominators about documentation and next-year nomination guidance.
A note on names: the meeting transcript contains variant renderings of the Murphysburg nominee (the committee’s recorded recommendation uses the spelling "Bussey" while an earlier spoken reference sounded like "Busey"); the commission accepted the committee’s written recommendation during the meeting.
