60th Annual Preservation Awards: Announcing the 2026 Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award Recipient

Historic Columbus proudly presented the 2026 Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award to Betsy Butler Ramsay during its 60th Annual Preservation Awards. The organization's highest honor recognizes Betsy's lifelong service to Columbus, her hands-on commitment to preservation, and the steady leadership she has provided Historic Columbus during an especially important chapter in its history.

Since 1984, the Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award has recognized individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to historic preservation have helped shape the future of Columbus and the surrounding region. Its recipients share a commitment to ensuring that the community's significant places and stories endure.

The award began as a surprise for its namesake, Sarah Turner Butler, known to most everyone as "Weezie." In the 1960s, Weezie joined Janice Biggers and quickly became her co-instigator in all things preservation. She was Historic Columbus' first female president, serving from 1967 until 1971; Chairman of the Board from 1977 until 1986; and Chairman Emeritus from 1986 until her passing in 2012.

A 1968 Ledger-Enquirer article described Weezie as "tiny and dynamic." She was indeed. And those same words could just as easily describe this year’s recipient.

A lifelong Columbusite, Betsy grew up with a front-row seat to the city's emerging preservation movement. She saw firsthand the persistence, partnership, and courage required to protect the places that matter. Throughout her life, she has generously served the community through board leadership and volunteer service. St. Francis, Girls Inc., the Columbus Museum, the Columbus Symphony, the Bradley Center, the Wynn House, and the Pastoral Institute are among the many organizations that have benefited from her time, energy, and wise counsel.

Her commitment to Historic Columbus has been particularly steadfast. Betsy's service has never been limited to attending meetings or offering advice. Like her mother, she has never been afraid to jump into the deep end of a preservation project.

In 1997, she opened the Galleria at 15 10th Street, helping to lead the return of retail shopping to Uptown Columbus from a historic storefront. In 2001, after purchasing and renovating the Garrett-Joy and Sol Loeb buildings, she helped create what became Dillingham Place. Historic Columbus recognized that remarkable effort with a Preservation Award in 2002.

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More recently, Betsy assisted with the acquisition and rehabilitation of the historic duplex at 2901 First Avenue, a strategic property at the entrance to Bradley Circle. The work helped set the tone for continued reinvestment in the neighborhood, the kind of catalytic preservation that strengthens far more than a single building.

Since 2023, she has led Historic Columbus as Chairman of the Board with genuine devotion to our mission. Thanks to Betsy's leadership, we have seen new life return to Bradley Circle, celebrated the completion of the Chattahoochee Promenade and the Clifford and Bobsie Swift History Trail, watched revitalization continue at the former Heritage Park site, and witnessed the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter with the Alma Thomas House and Art Museum.

Last month, in recognition of her enduring service, she became a Director Emeritus. Because of her guidance, Historic Columbus is unquestionably stronger because she chose to be so deeply involved.

Presenting Betsy with an award created to honor her mother made the recognition especially meaningful. She has honored her mother's legacy not by simply following in her footsteps, but by making that legacy her own. Through her service, leadership, generosity, and friendship, Betsy Ramsay has left an indelible mark on Historic Columbus and on the community she loves.

It is Historic Columbus' great honor to present the 2026 Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award to Betsy Ramsay.