2014 Heritage Award Recipient: DOUG CHRISTIAN

Doug is a life-long resident of Miami County. He was born in Troy, graduated from Miami East High School, and the University of Dayton with a B.S. in civil engineering.

He started his career as an engineer with the Dayton Power & Light Company. He became the Miami County Chief Deputy Engineer in 1973 and the Miami County Engineer in 1979. He retired from his position in 2011. He has made outstanding contributions to the preservation and restoration of historical and genealogical matters pertaining to Miami County, including
responsibility for the restoration and or preservation of the following projects:
1873 stone twin arch bridge carrying a stream under the Miami & Erie canal north of Eldean Road
1860 Eldean Covered Bridge
Removal of the historic Fairview Road low truss metal bridge that was later used on the Miami County bike trail
Assisted the National Park Service with historical documentation of the Eldean covered bridge which was recorded in the Libarary of Congress
Organized efforts to collect Miami County High School yearbooks for donation to the Ohio Historical Society
Assisted the Smithsonian Institute with their traveling covered bridge exhibit and provided a complete exhibit of the Eldean covered bridge at the Hayner Cultural Center
Provided an exhibit and presentation for Miami County's Bicentennial
Assisted the Hayner Cultural Center with the following exhibits:
100th anniversary of the 1913 flood
Troy's bicentennial and the 100-year celebration of the 1914 Hayner mansion

Doug has spent many hours in researching, creating, and presenting various historic programs, including
The Covered Bridges of Miami County
The Forgotten Communities of Miami County
Historic Roads and Bridges of Miami County
Historic Photos in and around Covington

He donates his time and is committed to sharing these programs with many organizations, clubs, service groups, societies, etc., throughout Miami County and other counties. He spoke on the Eldean Covered Bridge at the Second National Coved Bridge Conference in 2013. In addition to his presentations and research, he has dedicated many hours to property and genealogy research for various residents throughout Ohio.

He is a member of the following historical organizations:

• Johnston Farm Friends Council Board of Directors
• Museum of Troy History Board of Directors
• Troy Historical Society Board of Directors
• Miami County Historical & Genealogical Society
• Pleasant Hill History Center
• Randolph Township Historical Society
• Ohio Historic Bridge Association
• National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges