Former RTC President Keith Laughlin Named 2019 Rail-Trail Champion

For his bold and passionate work at the helm of RTC for 18 years, Keith Laughlin—who retired in February 2019—was honored as our 2019 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion, joining the ranks of a select group of visionaries who have made significant contributions to the rail-trail movement. Laughlin’s stalwart leadership was central to the movement—including his role in launching RTC’s national mapping program and TrailLink.com, which now catalogues 37,000+ miles of trails, envisioning the 700-mile Route of the Badger, and launching the cross-country Great American Rail-Trail.

Tanglefoot Trail Voted 2019 Rail-Trail Hall of Fame Inductee

Since 2007, RTC has been elevating trails on the national stage through our Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, recognizing the country’s exemplary pathways. Congratulations to Mississippi’s Tanglefoot Trail, which was chosen as our 39th inductee following a public contest in which the trail received nearly half of the 29,000+ votes cast. Stretching 43.6 miles in the Appalachian foothills—and built on a former rail line with a rich historical background—the regional gem connects six communities in three counties, and is sponsored by nearly 100 local businesses.