“ This year’s award has co-recipients who have worked separately and together to facilitate our successes. As individuals and as a team, they have a national reputation for integrity, expertise, knowledge, and bonhomie.  Whenever possible, they attend our events, including our two fundraising galas (at their own expense), answer questions, monitor situations, and train volunteers.  They never say “no.”

“Candace and John, principals of Volz & Associates, have a long list of recognitions received from preservation societies and the Texas Historical Commission.  They are known throughout the U.S. and in Texas for infusing their careful work with a sense of historical accuracy and like physicians seem to approach it in the spirit of first, do no harm. Candace has spent hours preparing for and executing docent training at the NCHM using our specific decorative arts enhanced by her amazing library.  John literally has rushed over when we were panicked to find sudden (and alarming) foundation movement to assess the situation.  They performed these services and more because of their dedication and not for remuneration.  We were able, later, to retain Volz & Associates for an in-depth structural analysis to address our differential movement, but when John initially helped us, he certainly didn’t anticipate or insist upon that outcome.

Their resumes sum up their lives of professional dedication, but Candace and John are even better in real life than they are on paper.  The sense of trust they allow is unique in our contemporary world.   It’s a joy to work within their sphere.  The honor of bestowing this award is all ours.” - Cecille Marcato, Neill Cochran House Museum Director