WILLIE M. MURRY AWARD
The Willie M. Murry Award is KPTA's highest honor. It is named for Rev. Willie M. Murry of Coffeyville. Rev. Murry was a dedicated community leader and a major supporter for Kansas public transportation services. He was a member of the KPTA board from its beginning in 1981 until his passing in January 1994. KPTA established the Willie M. Murry Award in his honor. It honors an individual or organization that has carried on in Rev. Murry's spirit by providing distinguished service to the entire Kansas public transportation community for a sustained period of time. The 2020 Willie Murry Award is presented to:
Barbara Lillyhorn, Reno County RCAT.
As the Hutchinson Magazine stated: “Barbara Lillyhorn is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to transportation and senior services in Hutchinson.” Originally from Nebraska she came to Kansas to study at KSU. She obtained her masters oif public health thru KU School of Medicine. Her work has taken her to Ft Scott, Great Bend, Lawrence and Hutch. She has assisted a number of transit services in Kansas this year dealing with the public health crisis. She also in years past has rescued through adoption wild mustangs which she describes as “gentle, intelligent and gorgeous.” Barbara, director of Reno County Department of Aging & Public Transportation, learned this year that Fairfield USD 310 in the western part of the county needed help getting food to the families of their students (67% of students are on free and reduced lunches). The United Way of Reno County held a food drive, and RCAT made the deliveries. She is a worthy recipient of the Murry award.
Transit Agencies of the Year
.“Public transit providers in Kansas are dedicated, caring, and hard working professionals providing critical transportation services that positively impact the economic development and quality of life in the communities we serve.
During the last six months, our nation has faced an exceptional challenge in the Covid-19 pandemic, the likes of which has not been seen by our country in over a 100 years. During this time, public transportation services have been a literal lifeline connecting people to front line essential jobs and critical services. As transit professionals, we have had to improvise, adapt and overcome challenges like never before. We have been innovative in how we protect our Drivers and Riders, we have implemented service changes to continue to serve our communities, and our staffs have often been unsung heroes helping to keep our communities connected during these difficult times.
The Kansas Public Transit Association would like to recognize all of the transit providers in Kansas with the 2020 KPTA Transit Systems of the year. We want to recognize all of you and the work you have done and are doing every day to keep Kansans everywhere, connected to critical services and jobs during these challenging times.” -- Anne Smith
Innovation of the Year Awards are made to:
OCCK, Topeka Metro, Dodge City and KCATA for their use of free fares. This is a way to provide social equity and greatly appreciated by the transit dependent. Certificates will be made to each system.
KPTA Appreciation Award is awarded to:
KU-RTAP’s Interim Director Lisa Harris, who is the Program Manager for Kansas LTAP and RTAP programs. And who will be retiring soon and passing the baton. Her areas of specialty include transportation safety, transportation planning, community planning, communications, and partnership development and she has been a positive force for public transit in Kansas.
