St. Louis numismatist and numismatic scholar, Eric P. Newman, was awarded the Central States Numismatic Society's "Lifetime Achievement Award" on May 12, 2007, at the CSNS 68th Anniversary Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. The award was given for Newman's contributions to numismatics for a period exceeding 80 years, and for being one of the founding members of CSNS in 1939.

Newman, who was introduced at the convention awards breakfast by CSNS Governor Jim Moores, is a lifelong St. Louisan who has enjoyed, pursued, and willingly shared his interests in numismatics since he was l0 years of age. He has personally known the early giants of our hobby - long gone - including coin dealers and scholars Henry Chapman, B. G. Johnson, Farren Zerbe, Fred Boyd, B. Max Mehl, Thomas Elder, Hans Schulman, and Col. Edward Green.

Eric Newman contributed to CSNS' early years in many ways, and has shared his numismatic items through educational exhibits at early CSNS conventions. He was also the first secretary (1939 - 1940) of the Central States Numismatic Society. Recently he opened the "Eric Newman Money Museum" in the Kemper Art Gallery Building of Washington University in St. Louis.

In accepting his CSNS Lifetime Achievement Award, Newman told the awards breakfast attendees of starting his lifetime interest in numismatics at the age of 10 when he received an 1859 Indian Cent from his grandfather. He went on to say that the renowned St. Louis coin dealer and scholar, B. G. Johnson, fostered his interests in collecting at that early age by requiring him to study numismatic books in conjunction with Newman's interests in individual coins. Johnson, whom Newman referred to as his mentor, also required Newman to recite specifics about individual coins in conjunction with modest purchases before any coins could be purchased from dealer Johnson.

Newman also recounted some of the details of CSNS' founding in 1939, and his association with the first CSNS president, Arthur B. Kelly of St. Louis. Eric Newman also provided specific details of the 2nd CSNS convention, held in Burlington, Iowa, in 1940. Newman said that the convention hotel was right next to a very active rail yard, and steam switch engines continually worked through the night, bumping cars and making up trains -- which contributed to restless nights for most convention attendees.

At the conclusion of his acceptance speech, Mr. Newman received a standing ovation from the almost 100 convention guests in attendance at the awards breakfast.