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B O O T H I L L M U S E U MKansas Cowboy Hall of Fame
The Beginning of a Tradition
Don Goodnight of Meade, KS was instrumental in keeping the history of the cattle trails alive. He was the descendent of cattle driver, Charles Goodnight who is famous for the Goodnight/Loving Trail. The desire to honor Don after his death in 2000 resulted in him being the first person inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
On April 3, 2009 House Concurrent Resolution No. 5021 recognized and thanked the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame for preserving the cowboy way of life. 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." 
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