The Eastland Memorial Society has recently enacted an annual award, 'Eastland Disaster Advocate of the Year,' to individuals or groups who have advanced public awareness of the Eastland Disaster through their tireless efforts. In our inaugural year of the award, we also presented an 'Eastland Disaster Advocate of the Decade' and 'Eastland Disaster Advocate of the Century' awards. If you would like to nominate an individual for this award, visit our Suggestion Box.

Press Release July 24, 2000

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mary J. Bonevelle

The Eastland Memorial Society has recently named the recipients of three major awards. Mr. Mark Gumbinger of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Dr. George W. Hilton of Columbia, Maryland, and Mr. David Nelson of Winfield, Illinois have each been recognized by the Eastland Memorial Society for their work. All three individuals have made great strides in educating others about the Eastland disaster, disseminating truths about the disaster through research and verification, and remembering the victims of the disaster and their families.

Gumbinger was named "Eastland Disaster Advocate of the Year" for 1999 for his documentary video, "The Eastland Disaster." Gumbinger owns Southport Video, a shipwreck documentary production company.

The title of "Eastland Disaster Advocate of the Decade" for the years 1990-1999 was given to Hilton. Hilton authored the book, "Eastland: Legacy of the Titanic," which was published in 1995.

Nelson is the curator of the Eastland Disaster Museum in Wheaton, Illinois and has been researching the Eastland for over 28 years. The museum recently merged with the collection of the Center for History in Wheaton, IL. For his tireless and unselfish work in historic preservation, Nelson was named the "Eastland Disaster Advocate of the 20th Century."

The Eastland was a passenger steamer that capsized in the Chicago River on July 24th, 1915, killing 844 people. The Eastland Memorial Society seeks to preserve the memory of this disaster with a mission to provide information and support for descendants of Eastland disaster victims, survivors and others, to promote historical knowledge and remembrance of the disaster, and to plan and facilitate activities and projects which contribute to the commemoration of the disaster. The Society feels that the work of these award recipients has helped to achieve these goals.

Karl Sup, president of the Eastland Memorial Society remarked, "It is only through efforts similar to these award recipients that future generations will come to know the true heroics and tragedies which played out during some of the darkest of hours in Chicago history."

The Eastland Memorial Society would like to congratulate the three award recipients and thank them for all of their efforts. For more information, visit our web site at http://www.eastlandmemorial.org.