Cultural Programming Award to William N. Crawford III

The Friendswood Public Library is pleased to announce the 2017 recipient of the Friendswood Library Outstanding Cultural Programming Award is William N. Crawford III. 

William Crawford was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1925.  He is descended from 8 Revolutionary War Patriots as confirmed by the SAR. He was commissioned a 2nd LT. (WW II) as a Bombardier/Navigator, Army Air Corps and was training on A-26 attack bombers for night path-finder missions in the Pacific theater at the end of the war.

Bill graduated as a Petroleum Engineer from Univ. of Pittsburgh, 1948; he married Jeannette Satterfield (DAR) and lived on 6 continents while working in the oil industry mostly in drilling management operations while raising 5 children.

In August of 2011, Bill provided the library with a program entitled David LeFevre Crawford’s Civil War.  This program offered an account of the 6^th Corps in two decisive Battles, Gettysburg and Cedar Creek, and also recounted the life and events of this Civil War soldier through stories, images, and song. 

In October of the same year, Bill provided a program entitled Legendary Norden Bombsight, in which he presented his training as a WWII bombardier/navigator with pictures detailing the operation of the bombsight.  Bill was able to borrow an actual bombsight from a local museum which enhanced the experience for audience members.  Bill continued to provide these educational programs to local high school and church groups.  

For his commitment to education within the Friendswood community, the Friendswood Library will recognize Mr. William Crawford with this award at the conclusion of a presentation entitled The U.S. Doughboy: 1917-1919 with historian and reenactor Kevin Burke on Thursday, March 23^rd beginning at 7pm.  This program and award presentation is open to the public, no registration required.