58th Annual Preservation Awards: 2024 Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award

Sarah Turner "Weezie" Butler was a passionate, even feisty, preservationist. She was Historic Columbus’ first female President, serving from 1967 until 1971; Chairman of the Board from 1977 until 1986; and then Chairman Emeritus from 1986 until her passing in 2012. She spent her adult life working to make Columbus a better place.

The Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award is the Historic Columbus Foundation’s highest honor, awarded annually since 1984 to an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to historic preservation in our city and region through demonstrated leadership and commitment to the mission of Historic Columbus.

This year’s recipient is a Columbus native and graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. After law school, he worked as an assistant solicitor in Muscogee County before joining his father in his law firm. Following his father’s retirement, our recipient practiced law independently for more than 30 years. Fortunately for our community, he shifted his focus to real estate development, playing a key role in the revitalization of Columbus by restoring several historic properties and developing much-needed housing to enhance the vitality of High Uptown.

Among his most notable preservation achievements are the recent transformations of the 1905 Coca-Cola bottling plant and a joint venture with Historic Columbus to purchase and stabilize City Mills in 2015, an abandoned mill along the Chattahoochee River, which is now the City Mills Hotel. At the time, City Mills was Historic Columbus’ largest singular investment in a project. Without Ken Henson, saving this National Historic Landmark from certain demolition, would not have been possible.

His other significant preservation projects include the renovation of the John Paul Illges House at 1425 3rd Avenue, the development of four new infill apartment buildings in High Uptown, three historic house renovations on 3rd Avenue in High Uptown, the ongoing renovation of the Union Station train depot on 6th Avenue, and the Scarborough House on Wynnton Road next to The Columbus Museum. In under ten years, Mr. Henson has purchased and restored more than a dozen historic properties, all while maintaining his patience and passion for future revitalization projects.

Beyond his work in historic preservation, Mr. Henson is deeply engaged in the community. He is a founding member of the Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity, is active in the Chattahoochee Valley Land Trust and Dragonfly Trails, and has worked with organizations like the Housing Authority, the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, and the Mill District. In addition to his local efforts, Ken has also served on the UGA School of Law’s Board of Visitors for more than a decade.

Ken and his wife Chris, who is heavily involved in the community as well, have five children who live in Atlanta, Charlotte, and San Francisco. Just last week Ken and Chris welcomed their first grandchild and in true Henson fashion will welcome their second grandchild a week later!

With his extraordinary vision, leadership, and commitment to both preserving our past and building a better future, Ken exemplifies the spirit of the Sarah Turner Butler Award. We are honored to recognize him for his many contributions to our community. Congratulations, Ken!

Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award Recipients

1984 Sarah Turner Butler

1985 Emily Woodruff

1986 F. Clason Kyle

1987 Edward W. Neal

1988 W.C. Bradley Company

1989 Janice P. Biggers

1990 TSYS – The Depot

1991 Columbus Bank & Trust – Uptown Center

1992 J. Barnett Woodruff

1993 Brown Nicholson, Jr.

1994 Rozier T. Dedwylder

1995 Beverly S. Taylor

1996 Citizens of Columbus, Georgia – Olympics, 1996

1997 Dr. John S. Lupold

1998 Community Projects Foundation, Inc. – The Columbus Challenge

1999 J. Edward Sprouse

2000 Frank T. Schnell

2001 Thomas S. Gates

2002 Dr. and Mrs. M. Garrett Pound

2003 Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Lindquist

2004 Charlotte M. Frazier

2005 Virginia T. Peebles

2006 Edward C. Burdeshaw

2007 Columbus State University

2008 Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr.

2009 Mason H. Lampton

2010 Dr. and Mrs. Philip T. Schley

2011 Historic District Preservation Society

2012 J. Kyle Spencer

2013 John T. Turner

2014 C. Dexter Jordan, Jr.

2015 Siavosh Etemadi

2016 Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd B. Sampson

2017 Sara B. Hatcher

2018 Kenneth W. Nelms

2019 William W. Winn

2020 Columbus Housing Authority

2021 No Award Presented

2022 Mary B. Bradley

2023 George G. Flowers

2024 Kenneth M. Henson, Jr.