Tingley receiving De Aviles Award

SAINT AUGUSTINE –  St. Augustine Historical Society Senior Research Librarian Charles A. Tingley is the 2019 recipient of the De Aviles award, one of the city’s highest awards. The St. Augustine City Commission approved the award at the City Commission meeting on Dec. 10. The recognition ceremony will be held at the City Commission meeting of Monday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. in the Alcazar Room of the City Hall-Lightner Building, 75 King St.

This year, Tingley celebrates 40 years with the St Augustine Historical Society Research Library as a volunteer, fulltime library assistant and, since 2009, senior research librarian.
City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline nominated Tingley for the award. “This is a unique opportunity to recognize a well-deserved, behind-the -scenes, devoted resident for his 40-year collaboration with our local historical society and
citizenry, who has dedicated his life to finding and sharing our authentic selves with thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, readers across the world,” wrote Sikes-Kline in her nomination.  “As a tireless and dedicated reader and researcher, it has been claimed by those he has assisted that his mind is encyclopedic and his recall is formidable and unerring,” she said.
Tingley is a former member of the City of St. Augustine Historic Architectural Review Board and a past president of the St. Augustine Archaeological Association.
Bob Nawrocki, chief librarian said, “It is a great honor for Charles to receive it.” Magen Wilson, executive director, echoed this sentiment, “This is a well deserved honor. Charles is an incredible asset to both the Society and the community.”
The city created the De Aviles Award in 1988 to honor those who have dedicated honorable service to the community of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.