Daughters of the American Revolution Present Awards
Our Annual Meeting on April 23, 2023 had a few surprises! The William Wilson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Regent, Marian Christy Nolan, nominated and presented the following DAR Awards:
Patsi Graham was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award. The Community Service Award is presented for outstanding voluntary service in cultural, educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, citizenship, or environmental conservation endeavors. Patsi represents the substance of this award with her years of commitment to the Scott County Historical Society.
Dennie Siegrist was awarded the Excellence in Historic Preservation Medal. This award honors individuals who have saved and/or preserved their local history. Dennie has spent countless years preserving and telling the stories of peoples who called western Kansas their home. His passion for native cultures is especially evident in his development of the guided Historical Bus Tours which take groups to Punished Woman's Fork National Historic Site, El Quartelejo Pueblo Site, Historic Lake Scott State Park, Little Jerusalem, Monument Rocks and Duff's Buffalo Ranch.
Jerry Thomas was awarded the prestigious National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Preservation Medal. Fewer than 30 Historic Preservation Medals are awarded nationwide each year following nomination by a state level DAR chapter.
"The Historic Preservation Medal recognizes and honors a person who has done extraordinary volunteer work over a long period of time in establishing a historic district, preserving landmarks, restoring, or preserving objects of historic cultural significance, or establishing or participating in oral history projects, youth leadership and education, as it pertains to historic preservation, at the state, regional, and/or national level. Mr. Thomas is that extraordinary person and he is most deserving of this recognition!
On behalf of the National Society as we 'Celebrate Stars & Stripes Forever' through Historic Preservation, we thank Jerry Thomas for his dedication to preserve for future generations the important history of the people of Kansas." Elizabeth Blake Hotchkiss, National Chairman, Historic Preservation Committee
-Photo courtesy of Rod Haxton, Editor of Scott County Record