Kansas Historical Society
TOPEKA–Four Notable Kansans will join the list of 11 other prominent citizens in the Kansas Walk of Honor this spring. The bronze plaques of Arthur Capper, Fred Harvey, Joseph McCoy, and Karl Menninger will be installed in the spring along the walkways of the Kansas State Capitol.
These four new plaques will join those of Clyde Cessna, Walter Chrysler, Samuel Crumbine, John Steuart Curry, Charles Curtis, Bob Dole, Amelia Earhart, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Kilby, Gordon Parks, and William Allen White. The walk was established in 2011 and highlights people who contributed on a state and national level and have significant connections to Kansas.
The four honorees were pioneers in their chosen careers.
· Arthur Capper (1865-1951) born in Garnett, moved from typesetter to editor at the Topeka Daily Capital. He purchased several newspapers and eventually added a radio station to his properties. Capper served two terms as 20th governor of Kansas, then five terms as U. S. senator. He formed a foundation to benefit children with disabilities that continues today.
· Fred Harvey (1835-1901) was a railroad clerk who convinced his employers to test an idea. He established the first fine dining for railway travelers. The Santa Fe Topeka dining room proved so popular that Harvey eventually operated 15 locations. The fast, quality dining experience with the iconic Harvey girls encouraged travelers to explore the Southwest.
· Joseph McCoy (1837-1915) came to Kansas to create a shipping route for the cattle industry. He established one of the first cow towns, Abilene, at a junction of the Union Pacific railroad and the Chisholm Trail. He convinced Texans to drive their herds to his pens to be shipped by rail to markets in the east, eventually shipping more than 3 million head. He referred to himself as “The Real McCoy.”
· Karl Menninger (1893-1990) born in Topeka, became fascinated with the new science of psychology while in college. With the philosophy that mental health was as important as physical health, he established a clinic in Topeka that became the largest psychiatric training center in the world. Through his work and books he built an international reputation and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Kansas Historical Foundation, a 501(c) (3), serves as the caretakers of funds for the Kansas Walk of Honor. People can donate to this fund. The Historical Foundation, which supports the Kansas Historical Society, a state agency, established the walk fund so people can offer donations to cover the cost of plaques.