Kay Temple Stephens of Linden has received the Spirit of 1812 Award from the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, the local chapter of which she founded 10 years ago.
Announcement of the award was revealed Sunday, April 28, as the surprise ending of a chapter meeting, attended by dozens of USD 1812 members and well-wishers, some of whom traveled from as far as Little Rock and Houston.
The award commends Stephens’ contributions to USD 1812 and included a medal and framed document of recognition. The purpose of the award is to recognize those who make extraordinary contributions to their local community and who keep the history of the years 1784 to 1815 alive.
Stephens -- a member of the Linden Mark Epperson Chapter 460, USD 1812, chartered August 2014 – was selected based upon her distinguished record of study, promotion and preservation of this time period and include the following: — Chapter 460 founder and president — Compiler-publisher of biographical notebooks of 1812 veteran ancestors for members of Mark Epperson Chapter 460 — Implementor of a wide range of innovative ideas that keep Chapter 460 well and strong, and a financial supporter of USD 1812 annual projects at the national, state, and local level — Driving force in establishing the Linden Public Library and its Family History Center, which includes gifts of USD 1812 reference material — Lifelong public school librarian and educator, giving freely of her expertise to others — Supplied historical expertise to Texas Historical Foundation’s “Texas Heritage Magazine” detailing the adventurous life of Mark Epperson, 1812 veteran and namesake of Chapter 460 — Provider of research to support the naming of the historic 1835 Epperson’s Ferry site on Sulphur River to Preservation Texas’ 2022 Most Endangered Places List — Since 2016, a significant supporter of the reclamation of the historic 1939 Linden Fire Station — Contributor to the interior rehabilitation of the 1935 Texaco Station that serves as the headquarters of the Linden Garden Club — For many years, director of the Cass County Historical Commission and current secretary of that arm of the Texas Historical Commission.
— In 2011-12 served as editor of the first-ever book of history on Cass County and Linden — Contributor to the 2012 restoration of the Cass County Couthouse — Years of service on Cass County Historical Commission, and currently secretary of that arm of the Texas Historical Commission.
— A decades-long mainstay as publisher of her church newsletter and organizer for the Food Bank of that church. In conclusion, the chapter’s nomination of Stephens for this national award stated: “Kay continues to serve as an admired guiding spirit in our chapter. None in our region has a greater grasp of history, a greater eagerness to tirelessly assist others who do not know how to qualify themselves for membership … She possesses an astonishing gift of organizing programs and meetings that others are delighted to attend because of the learning and easy warmth she ensures each time we gather.
“Kay has given much time and treasure to a broad range of cultural projects and heritage causes, and among them all, it is clear to us that USD 1812 is among the nearest to her heart.”
Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Washington, D. C., the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 is a non-profit, non-political women’s service organization for descendants of American patriots who rendered civil, military or naval service to our country during the years 1784 to 1815.
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