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Photo Provided From left, Laura Carroll, chairwoman of the West Virginia Archives and History Commission, with Dorothy "Bibbee" Enoch of Wood County and Aaron Parsons of the Division of Tourism celebrating Enoch’s designation as a West Virginia History Hero.

CHARLESTON – Four people from the region were named Monday as History Heroes by the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

They were Dorothy “Bibbee” Enoch of Wood County, Fred Harmon of Wood County and Earl Parsons and Zach Parsons of Tyler County, according to a news release from the department.

The award honors residents whose dedication, leadership and service have made a lasting impact on the preservation and promotion of local history.

“Museums and historical societies across the state depend on the efforts of volunteers to steward their important collections and share our history with the next generation,” Eniss Smith, Department of Tourism deputy secretary, said. “These awards are one way we can help recognize the tremendous amount of time and talents that volunteers at these organizations contribute every day.”

Enoch has been an unsung hero for the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. She was first vice president of the society from 2014 to 2025 and is now second vice president.

She has helped schedule speakers for the historical society monthly meetings, led the formation of a refreshment committee and a garden committee and photographically documented the restoration of the Phelps-Tavenner House and other events. Enoch also has served as a proofreader for the society’s quarterly newsletter for years and has published within it various articles of her own.

Enoch was nominated by the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society.

For more than thirty years, Harmon has devoted himself to preserving and interpreting the state’s history through disciplined, authentic living history work. He has served as a board member, historian and sergeant major of the Circle Seven Ranch’s living history organization.

Harmon has mentored young re-enactors and provided equipment to youth who are unable to afford it. He has helped with living history events, including at Henderson Hall and Elizabeth Civil War Days.

His leadership has strengthened re-enactment units across multiple eras, elevated public understanding of West Virginia’s past, and set a standard of excellence for historical interpretation.

He was nominated by Circle Seven Ranch.

Earl and Zach Parsons are twins who assisted the Madie Carroll House Preservation Society with activities and events this past year and with planning meetings. They also were docents, recruiting new members and welcoming visitors, recruited family members to help clean and prepare the Historic House for events and decorate it for Christmas.

Earl had the bylaws translated into Braille to make them more accessible to others who are visually impaired. Earl and Zach also presented an educational talk on U.S. presidents who served in the Civil War to school children.

They were nominated by Madie Carroll House Preservation Society, Inc.

The awards celebrate individuals who go beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of local history, genealogy, preservation, and museum organizations. Recipients are recognized for years of dedicated behind-the-scenes service or for significant contributions that help preserve and share history for future generations.

Other recipients were Robert Ayersman II of Preston County, Donna Bertazzoni of Jefferson County, Tina Conner of Marshall County, Janice Cooley of Greenbrier County, Wayne Farley of Ohio County, William “Bill” Graley of Kanawha County, Terry Lowry of Kanawha County, Ruth Ellen D. Ferry Mooney of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of West Virginia, Barbara Norton and J. Brown Norton of Morgan County, Mary Ellen Reid of Wayne County, Peter Smith of Jefferson County, George S. Swann of Cabell County, Betsy Sweeny of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, Mary West of Preston County, Melanie Wray of Cabell County and Bonnie Young of Summers County.