XENIA — City of Xenia Community Development Coordinator Mary Crockett received the 2017 Heritage Ohio Best Public Leader in Revitalization Award at the 2017 Heritage Ohio’s Annual Revitalization and Preservation Awards Ceremony held recently in Columbus.

Heritage Ohio is a statewide, not-for-profit preservation organization, dedicated to encouraging and assisting people and organizations to protecting, preserving and revitalizing Ohio’s heritage. Heritage Ohio’s mission is to help people save the places that matter, build community, and live better.

Communities, organizations and individuals submit nominations for consideration of many awards. The awards recognize the various preservation and revitalization accomplishments of people, businesses, and organizations across the state. Crockett was among 13 other individuals who received different awards at the ceremony.

“It is an honor to be awarded the 2017 Heritage Ohio Best Public Leader in Revitalization Award for 2017,” Crockett said. “During the rise of the suburbs, downtowns statewide faced a swift decline, but now, as demographics and lifestyles change in an era of empty-nesters and young urban professionals, our urban centers have reclaimed their rightful place in large and small cities alike as the epicenter of business, culture, dining, and residential splendor that they were before.” She added, “Xenia and so many other cities in our state have incredible downtowns. To receive this award in front of friends and family is one of the highlights of my career.”

Crockett’s nomination criteria cited her passion for downtown development with the following statement:

“Mary Crockett works tirelessly toward improvement and revitalization in Xenia, Ohio. Not only does she always bring new ideas to the table, but she raises funds and implements the plans. As a city employee, she takes care of her official business first, but always finds the time in her schedule to put towards revitalization and preservation activities. She is a true cheerleader and participant for events all over Xenia. From Downtown Xenia Now, to saving the Carnegie Library, to the bike slow rolls she is involved on the front lines. Mary personifies leadership in preservation and positive action, as she constantly strives to make the city better and inspires other to follow her lead. Mary Crockett is living proof of community leadership in action.”