2002 Inductee

B O O T H I L L M U S E U M

Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame

2002 Inductee

Don Goodnight

2002
Cowboy Historian

Don Goodnight, descendant of the famed Charles Goodnight of the Goodnight Loving Trail Drive, was the first Cowboy Historian inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Born and raised on the plains of Meade and Clark Counties, Don dreamed of life filled with ranching, farming and flying. As a man, Don made those dreams a reality, as well as realizing the importance of collecting and preserving tools utilized by 19th century cowboys. Throughout his life, Don lived the “Cowboy Way” and upheld the “Code of the West.” He served as President of the Meade County Historical Society, Honorary Life President of the Old Trail Drivers Association, and as the “keeper of the flame” in knowledge of the history, heritage and traditions of the west. An avid pilot, he trained more than 200 pilots, including his own children. Don Goodnight’s accomplishments include that of rancher, pilot, author and historian. He was also a humanitarian and futurist with Christian values that extended to his family. But above all Don Goodnight was a cowboy.

"I'm kind of a historian of the cattle trails and all of the Goodnight history."