The January 27 annual meeting of the Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays was fairly routine at first.

Topeka author Debra Goodrich Bisel talked about her new book  “The Civil War in Kansas” and how no other state’s history is so entwined with the American Civil War.

Then came the business meeting.  It ended with a big announcement from Fort Superintendent  Bob Wilhelm.

“I’m going to retire on March first.  I’m still going to be around, as a member of the Society of Friends, and maybe later, as a volunteer, ” he said.  A few in the crowd gasped, and then there was applause and thanks offered to Wilhelm.

Wilhelm doesn’t plan to be  involved in the hiring of a new superintendent, saying “he or she should should be able to do things their way.”

Wilhelm has served as site administrator at historic Fort Hays for nearly 20 years.