Patricia “Pat” Heath was inducted into the Santa Fe Trail Association’s Hall of Fame at the organization’s 2018 Rendezvous in September. Pat became interested in history as an adult, taking her children to many museums and historical sites. She moved from Edmond, OK, to Lakin in 1982 to be near her grandchildren. She became interested in local history, particularly the Santa Fe Trail, while working at the Kearny County Library. In 1986, she attended a SFT workshop and became a charter member of the SFTA. She attended every SFTA Symposium and Rendezvous through 2004 and was named Santa Fe Trail Ambassador in 1997. Pat was also hostess to the SFT Bicycle Treks from 1995-2004.
Pat became a member of the Kearny County Historical Society in 1986 and was elected to the board at the 1987 Annual Meeting. She was chosen as board secretary that April. Beginning in 1991, Pat served as director of the Kearny County Museum for 14 years, and she received a distinguished service award for community service from the Kansas Museum Association in 2005. Pat died the following year, but her love for the Trail lives on through her daughter, Linda Peters, who serves on the board of directors for the SFTA, is president of the Wagon Bed Springs Chapter and president of the Kearny County Historical Society.