The board of directors of the Pioneer Museum of Alabama in Troy has established a meritorious award to be presented annually in recognition of an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the efforts of the museum.

Jeff Kervin, board chairman, said this year’s distinguished recipient, Kenneth “Ken” Hendricks, is the first to be honored.

“Ken Hendricks has, over the years, made outstanding contributions to the Pioneer Museum of Alabama,” Kervin said. “The board of directors and the museum staff are honored to present the first Curren Adams Farmer Outstanding Pioneer Achievement Award to Ken Hendricks.”

Farmer founded the Pike Pioneer Museum in 1971 as a living history homestead and heritage museum to preserve the legacy of the pioneer spirit.

“Mr. Farmer founded the museum so that ‘others may learn from the past,’ and we are committed to upholding is dream,” said Kari Barley, museum director. “Mr. Hendricks has done so much to preserve Mr. Farmer’s dream and we are proud to honor him with the first Curren Adams Farmer Outstanding Pioneer Achievement Award.”

The award dinner will be from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Saturday, January 23 at the Troy Country Club.

Tickets are available for individuals and for tables of four, six and eight. For ticket information call the museum at 334-566-3597. “Through the years, it has taken many hands to shape the Pioneer Museum of Alabama into the treasure it is today,” Kervin said. “Each of those individuals has made it possible to serve the community, state, nation and world. We are proud to honor one of those individuals, Ken Hendricks, with the first Curren Adams Farmer Outstanding Pioneer Achievement Award.”