(KAIR)--A Jefferson County Undersheriff who died in the line of duty in 1920 receives new, local recognition following efforts from the current county sheriff to see George Burnau honored on the state and national stage.

Today marks the 106th anniversary of the death of Burnau who died while searching for an individual suffering from mental illness, according to the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial, which says a related, extended foot chase led to Burnau's disappearance. Found dead later that April 29, 1920 day in a field, his cause of death was ruled as heart failure caused by over-exertion during the foot pursuit. Burnau was 46-years-old.

Burnau's story went unrecognized until Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig was alerted to the history, leading to his efforts to see Burnau's name added to the state and national law enforcement memorials in 2019. "I got a phone call from a lady in Springfield, Missouri that was doing some research and noticed that he wasn't on any memorial whatsoever," Herrig tells MSC News, adding that after he did some research and got all the paperwork together, Burnau is now listed on the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial as well as the National in Washington DC.

Now, recognition for Burnau goes local, with Herrig saying the plaque has been returned to Jefferson County and is ready for placement inside the Courthouse at Oskaloosa. "They have a plaque, resides at Washington for a year, and then they send us the plaque," Herrig says, explaining that his undersheriff put it in a nice shadow box, complete with the letter framed by Herrig.

Herrig, on April 20, brought the matter to the Jefferson County Commission, which voted unanimously for the Courthouse placement.

Seeing the plaque installed becomes one of Herrig's final projects in his position as Sheriff, asking for and receiving approval from the Commission to place the memorial on the Courthouse wall upon his retirement which takes effect May 30, ending his 43-year Jefferson County law enforcement career.