The Fort Bend County Historical Commission presented its first-ever Heritage Award Monday night to Robert “Bob” Crosser of Richmond.
HERITAGE AWARD – Robert E. “Bob” Crosser, left, receives the inaugural Fort Bend Historical Commission Heritage Award from County Judge Robert Hebert. The award was presented in a special ceremony at the George Memorial Library Monday night.
Crosser was presented with the award during a special ceremony at the George Memorial Library. County Judge Robert Hebert made the presentation before a crowd of historical society members and invited guests.
In selecting Crosser for the inaugural Heritage Award, the society cited his many hours of volunteer work to preserve the county’s history. Among his accomplishments are the preservation of a number of historical cemeteries and the location of the Fort Bend County home site of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas.
“This first-ever Heritage Award goes to an individual who has given countless hours for the preservation of Fort Bend County history. In addition to his personal time and hands-on work, he has inspired – and you might also say driven – many others to spend their spare time doing similar work,” Hebert said in making the announcement. “His contributions are more than ordinary.”
Hebert also noted that Crosser helped found the Fort Bend Archeological Society and served as its first president. He also chairs the historical society’s cemetery committee.
“He has actively and tirelessly worked to locate graveyards and protect them from harm in the face of the county’s rapid growth,” Hebert said.
HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT – Robert “Bob” Crosser accepts the Fort Bend County Historical Commission’s first-ever Heritage Award.
Additionally, Crosser’s “exhaustive” work in locating the Lamar home site will help preserve the location. Hebert said Crosser’s research determined the home site is on land currently owned by Fort Bend County, near the location of the new county courts building.
“Thanks to Bob’s hard work, the county will see to it that this (site) will be protected in perpetuity,” Hebert said.
For his part, Crosser said he felt fortunate to live in an area so rich in history.
“Isn’t it great to live in this state and in this county – Fort Bend County – rich, so rich, in the history of this state and the republic,” Crosser said in accepting the award.
The Heritage Award was the brainchild of commission chair Bert Bleil.
The commission plans to present the award annually to a person or organization for “exceptional contributions in historical preservation.”
