A Larned man who has literally built history in the area has been honored for his years of work on the preservation of the Santa Fe Trail.

Mildon Yeager has been named the recipient of the 1995 Faye Anderson Award from the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail.

For almost 20 years, before retiring, Yeager was the Fort Larned National Historic Site carpenter, and was involved in much of the important restoration of the old fort buildings, as well as helping with a number of historic representations for the fort's special events.

A private contractor before his years of work at Fort Larned, Yeager continued historical and contracting pursuits following his retirement.

After getting involved with the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter, Yeager's contracting experience came in handy once again. According chapter program director David Clapsaddle, Yeager has been instrumental in the chapter's most important projects, including marking the Fort Hays to Fort Dodge Road, the Santa Fe Trail from fort Larned to Fort Dodge and historic sites related to Larned and Pawnee County founder Henry Booth.

Yeager laid up the stone for those markers and in the Larned cemetery, he constructed a special marker.

Clapsaddle, who ramrodded the marking projects, said Yeager made them possible. "He has been, really, my strong right arm on many of these things."

Yeager has also been involved in constructing the traveling displays used by the chapter to take the story of the Santa Fe Trail to schools and civic functions. Clapsaddle said Yeager's carpentry skills were crucial to the construction of the displays.

A charter member of the chapter, Yeager receives an award named for a fellow chapter member, Clapsaddle explained that the Faye Anderson Award was established n 1994 to honor the late Faye Anderson , one of the first members of the chapter.

The first recipients were Leo and Bonita Oliva, editors of "Wagon Tracks," The National Santa Fe Trail newsletter, and active supporters of history preservation in western Kansas.

In addition to a plaque, Yeager receives a lifetime membership to the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter.

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