Gordon Wood, professor emeritus of history, will be honored with the Churchill Bell Award from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation on Saturday, April 30, 2011. The award recognizes extraordinary leadership, service, and stewardship. In addition to Wood, journalist Jim Lehrer and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be given the Churchill Bell, the Foundation’s highest award. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation selected Wood, Lehrer and O’Connor based upon their commitments to participation in democracy and active, informed and engaged citizenship — fundamentals that distinguished Williamsburg, Va., during the 18th century and remain essential to sustaining the United States today. Past recipients were hailed for preservation of history and American art, support of education, and service to government and diplomacy. The award is named for Sir Winston Churchill, who was the recipient of the first Williamsburg Award in 1955. A trustee of Colonial Williamsburg for 12 years, Wood has been particularly supportive of Colonial Williamsburg’s educational outreach activities and has participated at Colonial Williamsburg events and as a Foundation representative.