January 6, 2005

SUBJECT: Former State Senator Floyd Vrtiska of Table Rock has been appointed by Governor Mike Johanns to serve on the board of the Nebraska State Historical Society.

The twelve-year veteran of the Nebraska legislature is a farm and cattle operation manager with a lifelong interest in history. He currently serves as the president of the Table Rock Historical Society, and is active in economic development and agriculture groups. Vrtiska joins three others who begin terms in 2005 and were elected by the Nebraska State Historical Society membership to the fifteen-member board of trustees:

John Schleicher, Omaha; the head of special collections at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's McGoogan Library, Schleicher also serves as an adjunct lecturer in history at UNO. His involvement in history includes employment at the Western Heritage Museum, Omaha; the Dodge County Historical Society/May Museum in Fremont; and the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Cheryl L. Clark, Elwood, is a real estate broker and former teacher who served for two years as the state regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution in Nebraska. She was a member of the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women for four years.

Current board member Peter Bleed was re-elected to a second three-year term. Dr. Bleed is professor of Anthropology and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Twelve members of the Nebraska State Historical Society board are elected by the membership; three others are appointed by the governor. For more information visit www.nebraskahistory.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lynne Ireland
Assistant Director for Public Relations & Program Development
Nebraska State Historical Society
1500 R Street
PO Box 82554
Lincoln, NE 68501
402.471.4758
E-mail: lireland@nebraskahistory.org