As you may have seen in a few news articles around the state (such as Rufus Ward’s tribute in the Commercial Dispatch) and here on MissPres, Mississippi preservationist Ken P’Pool is retiring from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History after 40 years of service. The MDAH Historic Preservation Division posted this announcement on their Facebook page last week, inviting one and all to celebrate at MHT’s Lowry House in Jackson this Friday, July 13, beginning at 5:00.
After 40 years of fighting for Mississippi’s irreplaceable historic treasures, Ken P’Pool is stepping down as Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Please join the Mississippi Heritage Trust and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History on Friday, July 13 at 5:00 p.m. at the Lowry House, 1031 North Congress Street, Jackson, to raise a glass in honor of Ken. We will share delicious food (with lots of sweets in honor of the honoree), fun music and many, many stories of historic places throughout Mississippi that have benefited from Ken’s constant, strong and knowledgeable support.
To commemorate Ken’s legacy of thoughtful advocacy that has helped so many communities achieve positive preservation results, Ken has asked that his friends join him in raising funds to retire the debt on the Lowry House, once endangered and now headquarters for the Mississippi Heritage Trust. Our goal is to raise $40,000 in honor of 40 years of service. To make a contribution in honor of Ken’s gift of public service to Mississippi, please send a check to MHT, P.O. Box 577, Jackson, MS 39205 or email MHT at preservation@mississippiheritage.com.
We hope to see you at 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 13 as we honor Ken and wish him every good thing for his next chapter. To RSVP, please email preservation@mississippiheritage.com or call MHT at 601 354 0200.
On a related note, MDAH has posted a job opening for Division Director of the Historic Preservation Division, closing on July 30.
The incumbent in this position will serve as the Director of the Historic Preservation Division at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for areas including archaeology, architectural history, technical assistance, and review and compliance.
Work involves developing, controlling, and directing operations through various highly specialized professional and technical staff. The incumbent exercises authority in establishing objectives, standards, and control measures within the context of broad, general policy guidelines for large programs having significant impact to the public. The incumbent also determines major departmental policy and provides input into other significant agency operations at the direction of the Executive Director.
Applicants may apply online through the Mississippi State Personnel Board website or mail State of Mississippi Applications to: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Attn: Human Resources, 200 North Street, Jackson, MS 39201.
Read more at the Mississippi Personnel Board’s website . . .
Categories: Historic Preservation, MS Dept. of Archives and History, Preservation People/Events
Preservation in Mississippi 
i have enjoyed knowing ken for all of his years at mdah; he has done a great job in the variety of positions he had held there; i hope he continues to ‘be active’ in the preservation field in ms.
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Perhaps Ken could return to Columbus and help them revamp their Preservation ordinances?
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Great idea! If they’ll let him!
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