DAR honors two Autauga County leaders for preserving local history
Larry Caver and Danny Loftin were cited for keeping Autauga County's history visible, from cemetery work and family records to a patriotic tree at Fat Boy's BBQ Ranch.
Two Autauga County men were recognized for work that goes well beyond ceremony. The Atagi Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored Larry Caver and Danny Loftin on May 16 with the DAR America 250 Commendation Medal and certificate, an award for non-DAR individuals and groups that have gone out of their way to honor American independence and teach others about it.
Caver was recognized for the leadership behind the Old Autauga Historical Society, which now has more than 300 members and has focused on preserving the history of Old Autauga County without favoring one city or community over another. The society has restored historic structures, cleaned cemeteries, documented family histories and helped communities mark milestones, including Autauga County’s bicentennial. Its roots trace back to the aftermath of the county bicentennial fair in November 2018, when Caver and others turned renewed interest in the county’s past into an organization in 2020.
That work lands in a county with deep historical stakes. Autauga County was established on Nov. 21, 1818, by the Alabama Territorial Legislature, before Alabama became a state in 1819. The county was named for Autauga Creek, and historical references note that the original county included what are now Autauga, Elmore and Chilton counties. In practical terms, the society’s efforts help keep gravesites, family records, and local landmarks from being lost to time or neglect.
The group’s public reach was on display in April, when its Chronicles of America, 1776 to 2026 exhibit featured more than 300 display boards and drew more than 2,000 students from 10 Alabama counties. A companion two-day USA 250 program at the Doster Center in Prattville, at 424 South Northington St., was free and included interactive exhibits, historical reenactors and live performances. It was the kind of hands-on civic education that turns a classroom topic into something students can see, hear and walk through in their own county.
Loftin was honored separately for his support of the chapter’s History Tree Project. For the past four years, the owner of Fat Boy’s BBQ Ranch has hosted patriotic displays for the chapter, giving it a public place to share history with customers and visitors. Earlier coverage noted that Loftin first opened his restaurant dining room as display space after other venues did not work out, a practical decision that turned a local business into a steady home for patriotic remembrance.
Fat Boy’s BBQ Ranch, at 154 First Street in Prattville, has been open since 1998, and business records list Loftin as the primary contact. The corporation was filed in 2001. In Autauga County, the award recognized more than goodwill: it marked the volunteer labor, private space and public education needed to keep local memory in circulation as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary in July 2026.
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