The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation presented 19 awards recognizing the best of preservation in Georgia during its 40^th annual Preservation Awards ceremony.

The Hancock County Courthouse in Sparta, Ga. received the Marguerite Williams Award, presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state. The building also received an award in the Excellence in Preservation category.

The Hancock County Courthouse received the Marguerite Williams Award in recognition of the community's determination to rebuild the historic building after it was destroyed by fire in 2014. Listed twice on The Georgia Trust Places in Peril list, the Second Empire style courthouse has served the county since 1883 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nicknamed "Her Majesty" by locals, the Hancock County Courthouse was reconstructed and reopened in 2016.

The Ritz Theatre in Toccoa, Ga. received the Chairman's Award, presented by the chairman of The Georgia Trust to a person or project of great preservation significance. The building also received an award in the Excellence in Rehabilitation category.

The Trust also presented one award for Excellence in Restoration, eight awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation, one award for Excellence in Sustainable Rehabilitation, two awards for Excellence in Preservation Service and two awards for Excellence in Preservation.

The Trust presented the Camille W. Yow Volunteer of the Year Award to Tiffany Alewine of Flowery Branch. The Senator George Hooks Award was awarded to the Georgia House of Representatives Study Committee on Historic Site Preservation: Chairman Chuck Williams, Vice-Chairman Debbie Buckner, The Honorable Beth Beskin, The Honorable Buzz Brockway and The Honorable Trey Rhodes. The Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service was given to Tad Brown of the Watson-Brown Foundation.

The Excellence in Restoration winner was Sugar Creek Plantation in McRae-Helena.

Excellence in Rehabilitation winners were: Carnegie Library at Georgia Tech, Atlanta; Historic Beach Pavilion, Jekyll Island; Merritt-Long House, Macon; Pound Hall at the University of Georgia, Athens; Ritz Theatre, Toccoa; Standard Building, Macon; Sayre-Alford House, Sparta; and Henry Kennedy Building, Augusta.

The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center in Madison was recognized with an Excellence in Sustainable Rehabilitation Award.

Excellence in Preservation Service winners were: Tony Long, a leading preservation craftsman in Macon who has been involved with a majority of past Georgia Trust award-winning projects from central Georgia; and Maria Saporta, a longtime Atlanta journalist who has highlighted preservation issues to help educate a wider audience about why the historic built environment matters.

Excellence in Preservation winners were: Hancock County Courthouse, Sparta; and the Broughton Street Collection, 16 rehabilitated buildings on Savannah's Broughton Street.

"This year's winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia's historic buildings and communities," said Mark C. McDonald, president of The Georgia Trust.  "We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals."