Signal Mountain resident Jim Douthat was recently recognized by the East Tennessee Historical Society with an Award of Distinction for his numerous works on regional history as well as his many contributions to regional historical societies.
Contributed photoJames Douthat of Signal Mountain was recently honored with an Award of Distinction by the East Tennessee Historical Society.
Douthat was selected based on “a lifetime of devotion to the preservation of East Tennessee’s history through the publication of numerous historical and genealogical works and service to various regional historical and genealogical boards and commissions,” according to the certificate presented to him by the East Tennessee Historical Society.
“If we don’t know where we’re from, we have no direction for where to go,” said Douthat of his attraction to researching histrory. “Researching our past helps give us a foundation for our future.”
Owner of Mountain Press and author of numerous books written about the region as well as vice president of programs for the Chattanooga Area Historical Commission, Douthat was recommended for the award by the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society.
The regional historical groups for which Douthat currently serves as an officer are the Delta Genealogical Society of Rossville, Ga., the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society and the Chattanooga Area Historical Society.