Brownback at Sternberg on Wednesday for ceremonial signing

Mosasaur, (Tylosaurus family) on display at Sternberg — Tylosaurus , the Kansas marine fossil, on display at Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Gov. Sam Brownback is scheduled to be in Hays Wednesday afternoon for a ceremonial signing of the new law designating two state fossils.

The event is planned for 3:15 p.m. in the lobby of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, according to museum director Reese Barrick. The governor’s plane is scheduled to arrive at Hays Regional Airport at 3 p.m.

The bill, which passed both the Kansas House and Senate by a large margin, has already been signed into law. It designates the marine fossil Tylosaurus and the flying fossil Pteranodon as the two official state fossils.

A life-sized model of Pteranodon, the Kansas flying fossil, on display at the Sternberg museum.

Barrick hopes to the governor will pose for a “photo-op” with the Sternberg display featuring the two Kansas fossils.

The museum features both the type specimen of Pteranodon sternbergi and a complete Tylosaurus collected and mounted by George Sternberg in the Cretaceous fossil gallery. Life-sized models of both are also prominent in Cretaceous dioramas.

“We will get to keep the paper signed by Gov. Brownback and will add that to our display,” Barrick said.

Sternberg adjunct curator of paleontology Mike Everhart testified in favor of the bill and is expected to be present for the ceremonial signing.