Sentinel-Times welcomes renowned Historian Leo Oliva: ‘It Happened in Kansas’ column debuts this week

The Sentinel-Times is delighted to welcome an exciting new contributor to our pages, debuting a fresh and engaging column in this week’s issue.

Many readers already know Leo Oliva for his remarkable depth of historical knowledge. Responding to popular demand for more stories about our region’s vibrant past, the Sentinel-Times sought out Leo after discovering his captivating work in a neighboring publication. We were thrilled when Leo enthusiastically agreed to join us as a regular columnist, bringing his unique storytelling to our community.

Now at 88 years of age, Leo stated, “I edited and published the Santa Fe Trail Association quarterly, Wagon Tracks, for 25 years, and I have managed the Cheyenne/Lakota village site in Ness County since the Fort Larned Old Guard purchased it in 1998.”

Leo Oliva, a native of Ash Rock Township north of Woodston, is joining the Sentinel-Times with a column, “It Happened in Kansas,” featuring stories about our enchanting Kansas heritage. He plans to prepare one or two columns each month and more when he has time.

Leo is a retired professor of history at Fort Hays State University and the celebrated author of a dozen books, including histories of Ash Rock Township (1983) and Woodston (1985). His expertise spans frontier military history and Kansas history, and he is a valued member of the Humanities Kansas speakers’ bureau. Leo has inspired audiences at museums and libraries across the state and remains deeply involved with organizations such as the Rooks County Historical Society Museum, the Fort Larned Old Guard, the Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays, the Santa Fe Trail Association, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, and the Kansas State Historical Society. Readers can expect his column to shine a spotlight on the people and stories that make Kansas heritage so rich and unique.

You can find Leo’s debut column on Page 2A, starting with this week’s issue.