Above: Brenton Simons delivering Mayor Walsh's proclamation of "William M. Fowler Day" at the Harvard Club of Boston.
On Thursday, January 25, 2018, the New England Historic Genealogical Society honored historian William M. Fowler, Jr. with the Lifetime Achievement Award in History & Biography at a dinner for one hundred guests at the Harvard Club of Boston. This was followed by a book signing by the honoree of his latest volume, "Steam Titans." Professor Fowler, who served as Chairman of the NEHGS board of trustees in the 1990s, is past Director of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the author of numerous books -- especially on the subject of naval history, and a longtime history professor at Northeastern University.
I was honored to host the event, along with my colleague, Ryan J. Woods, and historian Robert J. Allison of Suffolk University, who moderated a conversation with Bill about his distinguished career in history and as an author. For me, a special highlight of the evening was delivering the proclamation from Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh naming January 25, 2018 as "William M. Fowler, Jr. Day."
Abstracted from Mayor Walsh's proclamation:
"Whereas: William M. Fowler, Jr. is revered among Boston Historians, having provided leadership to many of our city's great institutions including the Massachusetts Historical Society and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Whereas: William M. Fowler, Jr. has exercised his love for history through teaching countless students for over four decades at Northeastern University, retiring in 2017 as a Distinguished Professor of History. Etc., etc.
Therefore: I, Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of the City of Boston, do hereby proclaim January 25, 2018 to be: William M. Fowler, Jr. Day in the City of Boston."