Samuel Yeager

Samuel James Yeager, October 17, 1944 – November 2, 2026

Samuel James Yeager grew up in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where his parents nurtured his love of learning. He attended high school as a day student at Northfield-Mt. Hermon, followed by a BA in History at the University of Massachusetts. After his undergraduate years, he went on to earn a Master’s in Library Science at Vanderbilt where he met Mary, the love of his life.

Sam went on to serve in the USAF Special Operations Force during the Vietnam War, and after those years of military service and honorable discharge, he began his dream of pursuing a Doctoral degree in Public Administration at the University of Georgia.

The 1970s were busy for Sam and Mary; at that time, Sam completed his Doctorate, started a family, and moved to Wichita, Kansas, to begin teaching at Wichita State University. Sam taught at WSU for 50 years, becoming an internationally recognized scholar with more than 50 publications on organizational behavior, ethics and political science. He has taught hundreds of classes and thousands of students and served as a mentor to generations of public service leaders. Sam was a firm believer that education could change the world for the better and dedicated his teaching and research to proving again and again that people and their societies benefit from ethical leadership. For as much as Sam inspired his colleagues, friends, and family, he was also beloved by them.

Sam joins his cherished wife, Mary, who preceded him in death in 2019. He is survived by his two daughters, Suzanne Yeager of Katonah, New York (married to Ieuan Williams) and Mary Elizabeth Yeager of Wichita (married to Brian Silcott); and his three grandchildren, Graeme and Emma Williams, and Holton Silcott.

A celebration of life is planned for late December.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the scholarship: The Sam Yeager Fund for Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) Student Success at Wichita State University.

How to Contribute

• Online Giving: You can donate directly to: give.wichita.edu/sam-yeager-50-for-50.
• By Mail: Checks can be mailed to the WSU Foundation at the address below:

WSU Foundation

1845 Fairmount St.

Wichita, KS 67260

Memo line: Sam Yeager for MPA Student Success Fund #212077

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.