Restored mail cart dedicated in honor of Jim Boyd, first parks employee

A ceremony was held Wednesday to dedicate the restored mail cart that was used to load and unload mail and freight from trains. It was a fixture in front of King Jack Park until it fell apart into pieces.

The Southwest Missouri Railway Association hired Gary Pippin, with the parks department, to restore it in his off hours.

It was brought to the park Tuesday and mounted on a concrete slab in front of the parks office.

The mail cart is dedicated in memory of Jim Boyd, the parks department’s first employee. His son, Steve Boyd, was surprised during the ceremony when it was announced that his dad was being honored. Steve was assigned the duty of cutting the ribbon.