Regional historian receives statewide award

Gene Russell of Orland received a merit award from the Conference of California Historical Societies at its annual meeting June 27 in Martinez.

About 200 history lovers from throughout the state attended the annual awards luncheon at the Shell Clubhouse. Russell said the location was fitting for a group of history buffs.

“The walls were knotty pine and there was a stone fireplace at one end,” he said. Once a gathering place for Shell Oil refinery employees, Russell estimated the building is between 70 and 80 years old.

“To get recognition from other historical societies was nice,” Russell said. “Some people there have dome some pretty amazing things.”

The conference honored the Orland Historical and Cultural Society with a different merit award in 1985 for its work on the Heritage Trail. Accepting the award was society President Richard A. “Dick” Jacobson, who died in 2008.

Russell, a retired industrial arts teacher, was recognized for his contributions to California history. He has written several books about Orland’s history and many articles about Glenn, Colusa and Tehama counties.

Russell is president of the Orland Historical and Cultural Society; founder, with his wife Shirley, of Orland History Camp, now in its 15th year; a member of the Association for Northern California Historical Research and the Colusi County Historical Society; and editor of the Colusi Society’s journal, “Wagon Wheels.”

“I wanted to honor the history camp,” Russell said Tuesday, but the Colusi Society nominated him for the individual award.

Orland History Camp is for students who have completed third grade or higher. It runs from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays next week.