D ays
Bluebonnet
Banquet speaker announced
Tommy Lightfoot had a 40-year career with Katy and Union Pacific
The Katy Days Festival is bringing in Tommy Lightfoot, a retired Northern Region superintendent of Union Pacific Railroad, as guest speaker at the Katy Days Bluebonnet Banquet on Saturday, May 24. The event will take place at the Cardinal Event Center, 13th and Main Street in Parsons.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the meal beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will be catered by Shredder’s.
Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Tommy Lightfoot’s passion for the railroad industry runs deep, shaped by his first-generation railroad family roots. Starting his career with the Katy Railroad in 1973, Tommy rose
See SPEAKER, Page 4.
Tommy Lightfoot
through the ranks to become Northern Region superintendent at the Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha, Nebraska. After a 40-year career, he retired in 2013 and has continued to share his extensive knowledge of railroad operations and their lasting impact on local communities.
“We are excited to welcome Tommy Lightfoot as our guest speaker for the Katy Days Bluebonnet Banquet,” said Steve Farrell, event coordinator. “His career in the railroad industry and his continued commitment to preserving its history make him the perfect speaker for this special event.”
The Bluebonnet Banquet is a highlight of the Katy Days Festival, which celebrates Parsons’ railroad heritage.
Tickets for the event are $20 per person, and RSVPs are required by May 16. Tickets can be purchased online at bit.ly/ BlueBonnet2025 or by mail. Please note that actual tickets will not be issued, but a list of reservations will be available at the entrance.
For more information, or to RSVP, please visit www.katydays. com or contact Steve Farrell at 620-423-4346.
KATY DAYS is an annual event that celebrates Parsons’ railroad heritage. The festival honors the legacy of the Katy Railroad and its influence on the region, bringing together families, railroad enthusiasts and community members for a weekend of history, fun and celebration.
