MIDDLESBORO — Hobart “Hobie” Cawood, a native of Middlesboro, recently published his first book entitled “Celebrations: A Personal Memoir Commemorating America’s Bicentennial Era: 1971-1991.” His book describes his memories from working in the National Park Service, particularly his twenty years as Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park.
Within those twenty years Cawood helped prepare Independence National Historical Park for the Bicentennial celebration of two of the biggest events in the history of America, the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America (1787) both took place in the buildings that now make up the Park.
Cawood grew up in Middlesboro and upon graduation from Middlesboro High School in 1953 left his hometown to attend college at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Va. After graduating college in 1957 Cawood returned home and began his career in the National Park Service working at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Cawood’s career in the park service, lasting 33 years, sent him across the United States working at seven different parks. The last being Independence National Historical Park, in Philadelphia, Penn., which is the home of 40 historic buildings that mark the birthplace of our most cherished founding documents.
The contents of Cawood’s book include his personal journal of the pivotal years he spent at Independence and 100 photos that bring history alive for Americans of all ages.
“He was looking back at his pictures and mementos and thought they might be of some interest to people,” said George Cawood about why his brother decided to write the book.
The book also includes a list of the more than 80 distinguished visitors to the Park including: Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Crown Prince Akahito and Princess Michiko of Japan, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, President of France, several Supreme Court Justices, former Presidents, actors and even baseball players. Throughout the book there are photos of Cawood with several of these people.
The book also includes nearly 50 awards that Cawood received while working at the Park.
Herman Brown writes of Cawood in a press release about his book, “Hobie’s sophisticated, personal, and take-charge leadership style endeared him to the 400 employees of the Park, where he knew everyone and their kin by first name. And everyone in the neighborhood also knew Hobie, and he knew them too.”
Cawood’s book can be purchased for $29.95 plus $3 shipping from Diane Publishing Co. Call (800)-782-3833 to place an order, or go to www.dianepublishing.net online. The book is also available online at www.amazon.com.
Andrea Schneider is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at aschneider@middlesborodailynews.com.
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