Kansas railroaders have something to celebrate after Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 353 into law, which officially created the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame at the Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita. But for SMART-TD members, the legislation accomplishes something even more significant: it permanently guarantees a voice for organized railroad labor in preserving the history of railroading in the Sunflower State.
“The Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame is about more than honoring our past; it’s about ensuring the men and women who built, operated, and protected our railroads have a permanent voice in preserving that history. I’m deeply honored by Governor Kelly’s appointment, and SMART looks forward to helping tell the story of the hardworking railroaders whose dedication has kept Kansas and our nation moving for generations. This is a legacy that will educate, inspire, and honor railroad families for years to come.” — Ty Dragoo, Kansas State Safety & Legislative Director, SMART-TD
A Permanent Seat at the Table for Railroad Labor
The new law establishes the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and SMART-TD members will have a major presence on the newly created board.
Three of the committee’s appointments have direct SMART-TD ties:
- Ty Dragoo, Kansas State Safety & Legislative Director, was personally appointed by Governor Laura Kelly.
- Chad Henton, Assistant Kansas State Safety & Legislative Director and Local 506 Legislative Representative, serves as SMART-TD’s official appointment.
- Vince Wetta, a retired SMART member, was appointed by the President of the Kansas Senate.
Governor Kelly’s decision to use her personal appointment to select Dragoo speaks volumes about the trust and credibility SMART-TD has built in Topeka. It is a powerful recognition of the work Dragoo and the Kansas legislative team have done advocating for railroaders and rail safety across the state.
Beyond creating a Hall of Fame, the legislation ensures that the stories of Kansas railroading will always include the men and women who have operated the trains, protected the public, and kept freight and passengers moving. Thanks to this law, working railroaders will have a permanent seat at the table as those stories are preserved for future generations.
SMART-TD also recognizes Senators Ethan Corson and Oletha Faust-Goudeau, whose leadership helped move the legislation across the finish line.
Generational Project Starts Off Right
Following the bill signing ceremony, Governor Kelly presented SMART-TD with one of the ceremonial signing pens. In a memorable moment, Dragoo asked that the governor instead present it to Karie Henton, daughter of Assistant Kansas State Director Chad Henton. Governor Kelly happily obliged, creating a special memory that reflected the strong relationship between Kansas leaders and the state’s railroad families.
SMART-TD was proudly represented at the signing ceremony by Local 1227 Local Chairperson Chad Henton, Israel Cline, and Local 1227 Legislative Representative Drew Couch.
This legislation is more than the creation of a Hall of Fame. It is a lasting acknowledgment that the history of Kansas railroading cannot be told without the working men and women of SMART-TD. Thanks to this new law, their voices will help write that history for generations to come.
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