A local man who is well respected for his efforts to preserve local history in general and the history of black people in West Virginia in particular was honored on Sept. 7 for his dedication.

Claude Williams was the proud recipient of two honors that came as part of the West Virginia All Black Sports and Academics Hall of Fame.

Williams received a plaque honoring him as "Greatest of Great Academic Historian Aracoma High School," and a medallion.

"It was something else," Williams said of the honors.

Williams has been featured in The Logan Banner PRIDE editions and features and has been a special guest lecturer on historical topics for Southern West Virginia Community Technical College and several local civic groups. He has also been a very active member of the Museum in the Park board of directors.

"Lou Meyers a renowned actor who appeared on "A Different World" hung the medal around my neck," Williams said. "I was really touched. It was something else."

Meyers is an actor, writer, producer and singer and the Appalachian Education Initiative listed him as one of fifty Outstanding Creative Artists from the state of West Virginia.

However, Williams was not the only Logan native honored during the recent ceremonies.

"Coach Smith came in again," Williams said.

Carolyn Bennett from Peach Creek and another fellow, Joseph Cromwell Peters were inducted Saturday. I remember when we called him "Crum". He used to live in Logan and he went to work for the governor. Only two historians were recognized this time around. The other one was Rosabel Roman from Summers County."

Presentations included former Liberty High School, Mingo County graduate Serena Wilson's "Secret Messages in Quilts and Songs from Slavery Times" and former Bluestone High School graduate Sylvester Myer's DVS sequel to his hook, "From the Coal Fields to the Oil Field and Beyond."