KO Railroad Honors Retirees

After a combined 70 years of railroading, Track Inspector Don Brau and Track Foreman Willis Iverson are retiring from the Kansas & Oklahoma (KO) railroad. But their legacy lives on through their work and the team members they’ve mentored.

Brau left last month, after 30 years on the line. He became a railroader when Union Pacific operated his portion of the railroad in western Kansas. He stayed in Scott City when it became the Central Kansas Railway (CKR), and then joined the KO when Watco took over operations in 2001.

Willis Iverson (left) and Don Brau (right)

As a track inspector, Brau spent his days ensuring the line was in the best shape to carry grain and other commodities.

“I really enjoyed my career. I’m an outdoors person, and it allowed me to be out there while doing my job,” Brau says. “It always felt like I was doing something important, making sure we could serve customers safely and without interruption.”

After overseeing the portion of the KO that enters Colorado, Brau plans to spend more time there now. Ever the outdoorsman, looks forward to camping and fishing in the Rockies.

“I got to do what I enjoy for 30 years, now I get time to do what I love,” says Brau. “It’s been a good ride.”

Iverson also started on his section of the KO before Watco began operating it. The Southern Pacific (SP) was his first employer on the railroad in 1981. That wasn’t his original plan, though.

“I had college scholarships to play football and there was NFL talk,” says Iverson. “Those didn’t work out. But when that happened, my dad said to come work for the railroad.”

He started as a production supervisor for SP in 1981 and became a track laborer in 1983. Iverson has been a track foreman on the line since 1993. Through the CKR and Watco buyouts, he was a constant for customers and team members, regardless of the operator.

“As a second-generation railroader, I know my dad had a hell of a work ethic,” Iverson says. “ He was my mentor. Being able to mentor younger team members and share my knowledge has been joyous. It’s not about the applause, it’s about the cause.”

Iverson’s first plan for retirement is to cook, which is a family tradition as well.

“I’ve been surrounded by great cooks: my grandmother, mom, and eight sisters, and dad. I’ve been smoking meat since I was 8 or 9. Aside from that, I’m ready to go fishing and spend time with my family, especially the five grandkids,” says Iverson. KO Roadmaster Steven Morgan appreciates their contributions during their time on the railroad.

“It’s been great having each of them on either end of the KO. Don was my rock out west and Willis in the east,” Morgan said. “Both will be missed but have done their best to pass their knowledge along. I just hope they have fun, because they’ve earned it.”

The KO team held a retirement party for Brau and Iverson in late February and gifted them each a smoker and pizza oven attachment for them.