Marshall Depot Board officially kicks off

2024 Fundraising Campaign with KMHT Radio

“Dollars for the Depot” event at the Depot on July 19

Marshall’s local KMHT radio station (103.9 FM) and the volunteer Marshall Depot Board of Directors invite members of our community to support the Depot by attending the Dollars for the Depot fundraising event, which will be held at the historic Marshall Depot (800 North Washington) in downtown Marshall Friday, July 19 from 4:00pm-6:00pm.

Christina Anderson, president of the volunteer Board of Directors of the non-profit Marshall Depot Inc., shared: “The Marshall Depot Board is very grateful to KMHT for their strong and much-appreciated support in proposing this wonderful Dollars for the Depot event to assist with our 2024 annual fundraising campaign.”

She added: “We invite community members to join us for the event where they can make a tax-deductible donation to support this important asset—our historic Depot—which provides many benefits to our community related to transportation, tourism, education, quality of life, as well as documenting and continuing Marshall’s rich and fascinating railroad history. Plus, the Depot and Amtrak station provide a great benefit to our local economy.”

Ashli Dansby, General Manager of KMHT Radio station, shared:  “KMHT Radio has had a decades-long relationship with the historic Marshall Depot and wants to continue to see the Depot flourish. It’s an economic driver for our community while also being home to two top-notch museums. The Depot is often the first place in Marshall a visitor will see, and it’s so important to keep it well-maintained and running well.”

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The Marshall Depot is managed and operated by a volunteer Board of Directors that is made up of local community members. The volunteer board is also charged with the task of raising the funding needed every year to operate, manage, and provide the daily maintenance and ongoing preservation to the historic Depot, which operates as an Amtrak station and Texas & Pacific Railway Museum.

The Boogie Woogie Museum Exhibit Room was also added to the Museum recently by Alan Loudermilk, Depot Board member, founder of the Boogie Woogie Marshall, and owner of the Ginocchio Restaurant.

The Marshall Depot Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit established in 1990 to assist the City with the restoration, operation, and maintenance of the Depot. The Marshall Depot was built in 1912 and was restored in 1999.

Ms. Anderson also expressed the Board’s appreciation to the City of Marshall and the Marshall City Council and to Harrison County and the Harrison County Commissioners Court for the financial assistance that they provide the Depot each year as well.

In addition, she said: “We also, of course, want to send an ongoing shout-out of appreciation to Amtrak. We, as a community, are very fortunate to be one of only about 525 cities nationwide to have an Amtrak stop. Plus, Marshall is one of Amtrak’s crew change stops along the Texas Eagle route, which brings in tens of thousands of dollars to our local economy each year from the six crew members who stay in our community each day, in addition to the thousands of visitors and passengers who travel to our community annually via Amtrak. Amtrak is an outstanding and much-appreciated partner to our community, as is Union Pacific.”

KMHT’s Ashli Dansby shared that, in addition to community members being able to make a tax-deductible contribution at Friday’s event, they will also be holding a silent auction at the event of a number of items, including a beautiful Marshall Depot-related painting by local artist Dennis O’Bryant. (See attached photo)

Mr. O’Bryant has donated this 19”x25” acrylic painting, valued at $650, to assist with the fundraising for the Depot for which the Depot Board and KMHT are very grateful.

Ms. Anderson also expressed appreciation to the four community members who have stepped up to provide the initial challenge match for the fundraising at the Dollars for the Depot event of $1,000 each. The donors are Sam Baxter and McKool Smith, Marty Vaughan, the Hubbard-Watlington Foundation, and the Anderson Foundation, for the opening match, which event organizers hope to meet or exceed.

Ms. Anderson stated: “The event also gives us the opportunity to thank all community members who have already kindly sent in their donation to the 2024 annual Depot fundraising campaign and to those who have kindly given to the Depot in the past. Also, in advance we thank those will be  making donations at the event, or giving in response to the 2024 Depot fundraising mailing. The Board appreciates everyone’s support to help keep this important and beneficial asset for our community strong into the future.”

Ms. Anderson and Ms. Dansby also wished to express their appreciation to The Cammack Family Sullivan Funeral Home for generously donating the use of a tent for the outdoor activities of the event.  Members of the Depot Board will also be on hand to provide tours for guests of the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum and Gift Shop, as well as the Boogie Woogie Marshall Museum Room.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please mail your check to Marshall Depot Inc. at 800 North Washington Avenue, Marshall, Texas 75670. Or, if it’s more convenient, you can scan the attached QR code and make a donation that way.

In addition to Ms. Anderson, the other members of the volunteer Marshall Depot Board are: John Fortune (Vice President), George Leleko (Treasurer), Cindy Leleko (Secretary), Richard Anderson, Scott Barmore, Gordy Beran, Thad Carter, Judy Covey, Mary Hendricks, Griff Hubbard, Kristal Jeans, Alan Loudermilk, Dana Morton, Joy Smith, Daryl Ware, and Eddy Young.

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