Les “Bud” Eaton (left) receives a plaque for the McMaster Heritage Award for 2011 from Kenmore Heritage Society President Elmer Skold at Wednesday night’s event at the Kenmore Community Club.

A member of Kenmore’s volunteer fire department who eventually became its paid chief before moving on to head up King County’s arson investigation unit, Eaton is also known for being the current and longtime president of the Kenmore Community Club.

In 2001, Eaton helped lead the effort to rebuild the club’s hall just off Northeast Bothell Way on Northeast 175th Street. Eaton said crews of volunteers helped paint the building inside and out, fixed the floor and generally restored the hall to what he said it used to be.

Inside that building on Feb. 2, the Kenmore Heritage Society recognized Eaton for his service to the community with the 10th annual McMaster award, named after John McMaster, who gave the city its name in the early 1900s. According to the Heritage Society, the annual award honors a living person who has made significant contributions to Kenmore.