Nebraska Trails Visionary and Champion Lynn Lightner Passes Away, Age 90
It was with deep sadness that Rails to Trails Conservancy learned of the passing of Lynn S. Lightner, a long-time passionate leader of the trail movement in Nebraska, on Jan. 16, 2025, at the age of 90.
An engineer by trade, Lightner—who was born in St. Edward, Nebraska, in 1934—would be introduced to trail advocacy in the 1970s and go on to cofound the volunteer-based Nebraska Trails Council in 1984. The organization has since evolved into the nonprofit Nebraska Trails Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for trails and led their development throughout the state.
“Lynn was a remarkable engineer and trail advocate who dedicated his life to shaping the trails that connect and inspire our communities today.”
—Nebraska Trails Foundation in a tribute post to Lightner
“Lynn was a remarkable engineer and trail advocate who dedicated his life to shaping the trails that connect and inspire our communities today. His visionary contributions to Nebraska’s trail systems, spanning decades, reflect not just his technical expertise but also his deep commitment to preserving nature and fostering healthier lifestyles,” stated the Nebraska Trails Foundation in a tribute post to Lightner.
Lightner’s instrumental support for trails over the years helped transform the Nebraska outdoor experience. Highlights of his personal impact include serving as a bridge builder and 25-year superintendent of the Homestead Trail; securing funding for the initial purchase of the MoPac Trail East corridor—which today stretches for nearly 22 miles through Cass and Lancaster counties; and helping to restore the 1,714-foot Lied-Platte River Bridge on the 1-mile Platte River Connection, which connects to the 13-mile MoPac Trail through Springfield.
The MoPac trails and the Platte River Connection help make up a key portion of Nebraska’s 594-mile section of the cross-country Great American Rail-Trail®, RTC’s signature project to connect Washington, D.C., and Washington State.
During his career, Lightner oversaw the construction of an estimated 40 trail bridges. The visionary trail supporter is perhaps most recognized for his leadership over two decades—along with fellow trail advocate and long-time friend Ross Greathouse—in the development of the 22.9-mile Chief Standing Bear Trail connecting Beatrice to the Kansas border, which memorializes the 1877 Ponca Trail of Tears. In 2017, ownership of 19.5 miles of the trail were transferred to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
“We are both very proud of it. It’s one of the best things we’ve ever done together as trail developers, and it will probably be the most lasting,” Lightner told Rails to Trails magazine in 2017.
Lightner has been the recipient of numerous awards over the years, including a Golden Spike Award from the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Homestead, and a Trail Worker Award from American Trails. In 2017, RTC honored Lightner and Greathouse as Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champions for their outstanding contributions to the rail-trail movement.
A memorial fund has been created in Lightner’s name to support the continued development and maintenance of Nebraska’s trails, which he loved and valued so much. You can learn more about the fund and Lightner’s contributions to trails on the Nebraska Trails Foundation website.
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