Dr. Eric H. Boehm, who founded ABC-CLIO with his wife Inge in 1955, has been honored with the 2010 Jack D. Rittenhouse Award.
The award, established twenty years ago by what is known today as the Publishers Association of the West (PubWest), was presented to Dr. Boehm on November 6, 2010 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during PubWest’s annual conference. This award pays tribute to those who have made significant contributions to the Western publishing community. Dr. Boehm is recognized not only for his achievements in his 50 years in the publishing industry, but also for his accomplishments during and active role in World War II.
Dr. Boehm, born in Germany in 1918, was sent to America at the age of 16 to escape Jewish persecution at the onset of World War II. In 1942, he received his undergraduate degree in history and chemistry at Ohio’s College of Wooster and went on to earn a master’s degree in international relations. From there he enlisted in the U.S. Army and put his language skills and education to use as an interrogation officer, participating in the questioning of leaders of the Luftwaffe and Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel (Supreme Commander of German Armed Forces)—an instrumental event in ending World War II.