Feb. 12, 2019
Contact: Nancy Lee Gomer, Marketing Coordinator, 636-949-7535, or 636-795-1137, ngomer@sccmo.org
St. Charles County, Missouri –Two Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) from The Historic Daniel Boone Home near Defiance are being honored by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Region 6 for their achievements in front-line interpretation. Lead Interpreter William Ray of St. Charles will receive the NAI 2018 Master/Distinguished Professional Interpreter Award and Living History Interpreter Shirley Pecoraro of Cottleville will receive the NAI 2018 Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer Award. Both will accept the awards at the annual conference in Wichita, Ks., later this month.
Over the past two years, Boone Home interpreters have been honored with five NAI Awards, four regional and one national. These award-winning interpreters ensure that visitors to the Boone Home walk away with a memorable and educational experience.
About the recipients:
William Ray has been educating and entertaining the community with historical interpretation for the past 25 years. Serving as the park’s lead interpreter for the past nine years, he has become a mentor to staff and volunteers when it comes to telling the Boone family’s story. He utilizes effective methods of interpretive techniques to engage audiences as he tours the home and village grounds during special events. Ray also developed the curriculum for K-12 programs offered to students who visit the Boone Home on school field trips and Home School Days. He is an avid fiddle, banjo, and dulcimer player, and leads the Traditional Music Days event held at the site in the summer. This year, Ray will perform at Traditional Music Days on Aug. 17 as well as other programs in the park. Ray’s skill and commitment to his craft is described as being an invaluable asset to the site.
Shirley Pecoraro has been a devoted volunteer for the past 12 years at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, and has donated hundreds of hours of service to enlightening the public about the history of the Boone family. Known for her role as Rebecca Boone, the famous 18th century frontierswomen and pioneer wife of famed adventurer Daniel Boone, she is the first interpreter to greet and guide visitors through the home during special events, including
the Historians in Residence programs, Christmas Candlelight Tours, National Boone Day, Farming Ways of the Frontier, and Spirits of the Past programs. Pecoraro says she has a desire to be the best at telling stories of early American frontier life. Pecoraro will share her innovative interpretive techniques, ideas, and programs during one of the conference’s concurrent sessions. Pecoraro will captivate audiences at the Historians in Residence programs on Feb. 16, May 18, June 29, July 27, Aug. 17, and Sept. 21 and at other special events this year.
For more information about The Historic Daniel Boone Home, special events, or to book a home tour, call the park at 636-798-2005 or visit us at stccparks.org.
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