Cartwright of KDOT’s Lakin crew recognized for 20 years of service

Kansas Department of Transportation

David Cartwright of Syracuse was recently recognized for 20 years of service to the Kansas Department of Transportation and to Southwest Kansas.

Cartwright grew up in Syracuse.  He graduated from Syracuse High School, attended Garden City Community College and farmed for 10 years.  Then he worked at Kearny County Feeders and Collingwood Grain.  He had friends at KDOT that had been trying to get him apply, so he finally did.

Cartwright joined KDOT in 2000 as an Equipment Operator II Trainee at the Syracuse Subarea and was promoted to Equipment Operator II later that year.  He was promoted to Equipment Operator Specialist and transferred to Lakin Subarea in 2019. 

During his 20 years with KDOT, Cartwright and his crew have received an annual safety award.  He served on KDOTs Maintenance Quality Assurance team and participated in KDOT’s Winter Expo in Salina where he said he enjoyed meeting and working with other KDOT employees from across the state. 

Cartwright laughs about his most memorable moments which include the blizzard of 2017 when he got stuck in a ditch for nine hours.  And, of course, the time he had to flag traffic in 70 mph sustained winds. At five feet seven inches and 150 pounds, drivers were stopping to tell him they were afraid he was going to blow away.

While he originally joined KDOT at the urging of friends and because of the retirement benefits, he says the best part of job really is the people he works with, serving the public and running the equipment.

Cartwright has two children.  He enjoys tanking and tubing, bowling, golfing, exploring mining towns and museums and spending time with his nephew.