MDAH Director Katie Blount honored by City of Natchez

Certificate of Recognition presented for her leadership and preservation work

By Roscoe Barnes III

Mayor Dan Gibson honored Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, with a Certificate of Recognition on Friday, May 24, at City Hall. From left are Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez; Carter Burns, director of Historic Natchez Foundation; Mayor Dan Gibson; Katie Blount, MDAH director; and Valencia Hall, Ward 1 Alderwoman.

NATCHEZ, Miss. –  Mayor Dan Gibson surprised Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, when he presented her with a Certificate of Recognition on Friday, May 24, at City Hall.
 
He said the recognition was well-deserved because of Blount’s achievements that include her strong leadership and preservation efforts in Natchez and throughout the state of Mississippi.
 
“I really appreciate the city recognizing the department for its work in Natchez,” said Blount. “The elected officials and people of Natchez and Adams County have done extraordinary work to preserve the city’s tremendous historic resources, and if the Mississippi Department of Archives and History is not supporting those efforts, we are not doing our job.”
 
Gibson read from the certificate as he made the presentation. He shared: “In recognition of ten years of exceptional leadership as the lead historian for the Great State of Mississippi, working every day to make our state even greater in every aspect, for all of our citizens – and in the process passionately leading the way for the preservation of historic sites in and around Natchez, the cradle of Mississippi History.”

Gibson also mentioned a few of Blount's many accomplishments.

"Under Director Blount's leadership, the City of Natchez has received almost $1 million in grants for city projects, to include improvements to City Hall, our historic Depot, Auburn, Duncan Park, and the soon to begin restoration of the Angelety House," he said. "This is in addition to millions received for the Natchez Grand Village, Jefferson College and Natchez College. I honestly can't imagine Natchez, nor can I imagine Mississippi, without her."

Valencia Hall, alderwoman for Ward 1, attended the presentation along with Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez; and Carter Burns, director of Historic Natchez Foundation.
 
“I have known Katie Blount for over ten years,” said Hall. “She is an outstanding leader of an exceptional department, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.  Katie deeply respects and understands history and preservation and their importance to Mississippi and local communities.
 
“Katie supports and encourages her department heads to flourish in her or his expert area, and she has the respect of local, state, and federal government.”
 
Hall congratulated Blount on her 10-year anniversary as MDAH director. Blount previously served as deputy director of the department under Hank Holmes for many years, Hall said.