Robert W. Granger Historic Preservation Award
Established in 2026, the this award is presented annually to an individual or organization whose significant contributions have advanced the preservation, promotion, or enrichment of Delray Beach’s history and cultural heritage, creating a meaningful and lasting benefit to the community for generations to come.
The award honors the legacy of Robert W. Ganger (1943-2025), who served as President of the Delray Beach Historical Society from 2005–2008 and continued to lead, support, and inspire the organization until his passing in 2025.
Mr. Ganger was a corporate leader with General Foods Corporation for 32 years and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Known affectionately as “Bob,” he was also a passionate historian, preservationist, author of several books, and a devoted father and grandfather.
Mr. Ganger devoted decades to preserving the history of Delray Beach and Gulf Stream. Among his many accomplishments, he worked tirelessly to preserve and restore a historic Delray Beach farmhouse built in 1908. The structure was relocated to the Society’s campus, where it now serves as the Ethel Sterling Williams History Learning Center and Robert W. Ganger Archives.
As a co-founder of the Florida Coalition for Preservation, he also championed historic preservation and conservation. His scholarship, leadership, advocacy, and generosity left a lasting legacy of service to South Florida’s history.
Guidelines for Nominations
Eligibility: Individuals must live in Palm Beach County, and organizations must serve Delray Beach. Nominees must have contributed to preserving, promoting, or enriching Delray Beach’s history for future generations.
Who may nominate? Anyone interested in Delray Beach history may identify an individual or organization, excluding an organization of which they are an officer, member, or employee. Nominations must be submitted on forms provided by the Delray Beach Historical Society. Anonymous nominations will not be accepted.
How many nominees will be honored with the award? The award will be presented to a single individual or organization.
Confidentiality: Nominations for this award will be made through a public nomination process. Those submitting nominations must not inform nominees that their names have been submitted for consideration. All nominations remain the confidential property of the Delray Beach Historical Society.
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Ethel Sterling Willams Volunteer of the Year Award
Established in 2026, the Delray Beach Historical Society Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose outstanding volunteer service has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Society, its mission, and the community we serve.
The award is named in honor of Ethel Sterling Williams (1891–1987), the daughter of Delray Beach pioneers Henry Sterling and Mary Elizabeth Tucker Sterling. For nearly a century, the Sterling family played an important role in the development of Delray Beach, leaving a lasting legacy of leadership, accomplishment, and service to the community.
Following the example of her parents, Ethel Sterling embraced every aspect of community life. She was deeply involved in her family’s farming and business interests and, at just thirteen years old, helped deliver construction lumber by mule wagon when her father built the area’s first canning factory. She went on to attend Wesleyan College for Women in Macon, Georgia, where she earned a degree in education. As a young woman, she became a beloved teacher and later managed the Casa Del Rey Hotel on Atlantic Avenue, built by her father during the Land Boom of the 1920s. She was also an accomplished musician from an early age.
Ethel was a woman of conviction who supported social causes and advocated for equal opportunity for all citizens, including opposing the Ku Klux Klan. Her husband, Dr. William C. Williams Jr., played an important role in the founding of Bethesda Hospital in the 1950s, which became the first healthcare facility in Palm Beach County open to patients regardless of ethnicity or ability to pay.
In the spirit of Ethel Sterling Williams, this annual award honors a volunteer who demonstrates exceptional dedication, generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to the Delray Beach Historical Society. Whether supporting programs and events, assisting with archives and exhibitions, welcoming visitors, sharing special skills, or quietly helping behind the scenes, the recipient embodies the spirit of service that is essential to the success of the Historical Society.
The award recognizes not simply the number of hours a volunteer gives, but the enthusiasm, dependability, initiative, and positive impact they bring to the organization and the community. Through their service, the Volunteer of the Year reflects the enduring spirit of Ethel Sterling Williams and the important role volunteers play in preserving, promoting, and sharing Delray Beach history for generations to come.
Nominations
The Staff and Board of Governors will nominate an individual for consideration.
This award will be presented each year in October at the Society’s Annual Meeting.