FRIDAY, May 22, 2026 |
Photo – Teense Willford memorial bench – Bigfoot99 file photo
The governing body of Saratoga approved a date change for the Teense Willford Memorial dedication ceremony.
Loren “Teense” Willford, known as the “Voice of the Valley,” died on September 3rd, 2024, at the age of 85 after a year‑long battle with cancer. Teense was a fixture at public gatherings in Saratoga and the surrounding area and is regarded as a local legend by many in the Platte Valley.
In October 2024, the Happy Trails Committee was formed to honor Teense’s legacy. The committee selected a site at the corner of Highway 130 and West Bridge Avenue for a Teense Willford memorial bench and commissioned a bronze statue of the late statesman to be placed on it.
During the May 20th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Happy Trails Committee member Ellie Dana said the statue was originally planned to be unveiled during the town’s 4th of July parade. However, Dana said competing events scheduled for the same time led the committee to hold the dedication ceremony the day before and asked the governing body to approve the date change.
Rawlins native and former Wyoming Representative Eli Bebout is scheduled to speak during the event, along with officials from Cheyenne. The presenters will discuss Teense’s impact and the roles Bridge Street Bargains and the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation played in the memorial’s creation.
Dana invited the public to attend the 30‑minute event, which will end with a private reception honoring the project’s supporters.
Dana invited the Saratoga Town Council to the donor reception, saying the memorial would not have been possible without the town’s support. She added that the statue is scheduled to arrive near the end of June.
The Saratoga Town Council voted unanimously to change the date of the Teense Willford Memorial dedication ceremony. The unveiling is now set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd.
