Kentucky Press author named recipient of 2024 Thomas D. Clark Medallion
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 6, 2024) — Matt Williams, author of ‘Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast’ (University Press of Kentucky) is the recipient of the 2024 Thomas D. Clark Medallion Book Award. Combining brilliant photography with taxonomic classification, identification tips and more, the book is an essential guide to the birds’ natural history and a call to action on their behalf.
“I am deeply humbled that ‘Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast’ has been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Thomas D. Clark Medallion Award,” said Williams. “I am thrilled that this award will help bring more recognition and attention to the ongoing declines so many of our bird species across the United States are experiencing. Much conservation work remains to be done if we hope to reverse the current trends, and my hope is that many will be inspired to take action to help turn the tide so that future generations can enjoy these incredible creations.”
The Thomas D. Clark Medallion is presented by the Thomas D. Clark Foundation Inc., a private nonprofit that supports the University Press of Kentucky by helping fund scholarly books about Kentucky and its region. The Clark Foundation, incorporated in 1994, is named in honor of the late distinguished historian Thomas D. Clark, who founded the Press. Each year, the foundation presents the Clark Medallion Book Award, which includes $1,000 and a public event honoring the author.
“Mr. Williams’ book is an outstanding selection, especially during a time when much of our environment is at risk,” said Bennie Ivory, president of the Thomas D. Clark Foundation Board of Directors. "His work represents the high standards set by Dr. Clark.”
Previous recipients of the Thomas D. Clark Medallion include “An Introduction to Black Studies” by Eric R. Jackson (2023); “The Gospel of Freedom: Black Evangelicals and the Underground Railroad” by Alicestyne Turley (2022); “Perfect Black” by Crystal Wilkinson (2021); and “Writing Appalachia: An Anthology,” edited by Katherine Ledford, Theresa Lloyd and Rebecca Stephens (2020).
Williams is an award-winning author and photographer from Crawfordsville, Indiana. His previous works include “Indiana State Parks: A Centennial Celebration” and “Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest.”
“Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast,” which was released in March 2024 by the University Press of Kentucky, is also the winner in the excellence overall category of the Southern Library Association's Southern Books Competition.
The University Press of Kentucky is the statewide nonprofit scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Serving all Kentucky state-sponsored institutions of higher learning as well as six private colleges and Kentucky’s two major historical societies, it was organized in 1969 as successor to the University of Kentucky Press. UPK is dedicated to the publication of academic books of high scholarly merit as well as significant books about the history and culture of Kentucky, the Ohio Valley region, the Upper South, and Appalachia.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.