Debbie and Russ Reynolds will receive Greenwich Historical Society’s David Ogilvy Preservation Award for their exemplary dedication and support for the preservation of Greenwich’s architectural heritage. The award will be presented at the Historical Society’s annual meeting on September 20th at the Belle Haven Club.The David Ogilvy Preservation Award is Greenwich Historical Society’s highest individual honor, awarded when merited, for special achievement in recognition of major accomplishments or lifetime work dedicated to the advancement of preservation in Greenwich and beyond. Past awardees include David F. Ogilvy (posthumously 2020) and Deborah and Chuck Royce (2022).“Debbie and Russ have a long history of support for preserving Greenwich’s architectural treasures and heritage,” says Debra Mecky, executive director and CEO of Greenwich Historical Society. “It is a privilege to present this award to them. Debbie and Russ have played instrumental roles in the formation of the Stanwich Historic District and Historic Properties of Greenwich through which they endeavor to provide permanent protection to vulnerable properties from Greenwich’s early history. They have also provided many years of service to the town and have been tremendous supporters of the Historical Society for which we are extremely grateful.”“We are honored to receive this award,” says Russ Reynolds. “We cherish the classic New England heritage we have in Greenwich and feel strongly that it must be preserved for the town to maintain its distinctive character. This is especially important today when so many of our historic properties and structures are being demolished to make way for more contemporary homes.”Debbie and Russ have lived in Greenwich for 63 years, during which time they raised their three children and contributed to many of the town’s institutions and cultural organizations. They remain active in a variety of cultural activities and enjoy spending time with their 11 grandchildren.Debbie is a Trustee of the Historical Society. As a past board member, she played an instrumental role in the campaign which Russ led to house the Historical Society’s first archives building in 1987. The building has since been replaced by the new museum and archives. She founded the Greenwich Bible Study, and she recently published several publications on Greenwich, including Examining Our Roots: From the Beginning of the Town of Greenwich To Stanwich Church and Grit and God’s Grace: Mary Adeline Reynolds 1860 – 1948. A native of Los Angeles, Debbie attended Smith College and graduated from the University of California, Berkely.Considered one of the pioneers of today’s executive search, Russ is the founder of two of the search industry’s more prominent firms, the eponymous Russ Reynolds Associates and more recently RSR Partners. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Historical Society, a former trustee of the Greenwich Hospital Association and former board member of the Mystic Seaport Museum. Russ’ interests in preservation extend beyond Greenwich. He is a life trustee of the Mary Rose Trust, a UK organization that salvaged the 16th century warship Mary Rose which sank in 1545.In 1990, he published a history of his family in Greenwich, dating back to 1645, entitled Loyal to the Land. In June 2012, his book Heads, about his experiences in executive search, was published by McGraw Hill. A Yale graduate, Russ has held numerous positions in Yale alumni affairs.The Annual Meeting on September 20thth at the Belle Haven Club is open to members and their guests. Chuck Hilton Architects is the presenting sponsor. A reception at 5:45 precedes the program which takes place from 6:30 – 8 pm. Tickets are $85 for members, $110 for non-members. For tickets and information about corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://greenwichhistory.org/landmarks/, or contact Laura Kelly: lkelly@greenwichhistory.org or call 203-869-6899 x14.
