Mr. Ross K Boelling, President and General Manager

Lyona, KS

Ross Boelling has served as President and General manager of the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad since 2022. During this time he has overseen a period of growth and change that has reinvigorated the organization.

He retired from BNSF Railway in 2018 where he served as a Train Dispatcher, Manager of Train Movement, and Assistant Chief Dispatcher for 16 years in the Kansas City Regional Operations Center. Prior to that he was a Train Dispatcher for Southern Pacific in Denver C). and as a Train Dispatcher and Chief Dispatcher for Montana Rail Link, Missoula, MT.

Boelling served in the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office, Topeka KS for 12 years as an inspector, fire information system manager and finally as Chief of the Fire Prevention Division where he oversaw the State of Kansas Fire Prevention inspection and enforcement program at over 15,000 Kansas facilities.

For seven years he was a Programmer/Analyst for Development Planning and Research Associates in Manhattan, KS and Washington DC where he led several projects including managing and reporting RCRA enforcement information for the US Environmental Protection Agency. He attended Emporia State University, Oklahoma State University and Western Illinois University. Boelling and his wife Lynnette live on 80-acres south of Junction City, KS. They have three children and 4 grandchildren.

Dr. J. Steven Schwarting, Vice President

Abilene, KS

I have been interested in most everything mechanical. I was recruited in ASVRR in 2004 working on the 3415. I have continued with that commitment ever since. I have learned the other jobs as well. I’ve lived in Abilene since 1977 and retired from a family practice in 2013. I continue on the hospital board. My wife and I have 4 children and 10 grandkids that keep us busy.

Dr. J Stephen Smethers, Board Secretary

Manhattan, KS

Dr. Steven Smethers is an avid historian and has been a narrator for the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad for 12 years. He is the former director of the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication at Kansas State University, where he taught media history, as well as media management related classes for 20 years before his retirement in 2022.

After retirement, Smethers has assumed more duties for the railroad, having served on the Board of Directors since 2024, and currently serving as the secretary of the organization. He handles public relations and advertising work for the A&SV, serves on the railroad’s holiday planning and decorating committee, and serves as one of the staff historians who helps the railroad carry out its Kansas Heritage Railroad designation. Smethers lives in Manhattan, where he still does adjunct teaching and service work at K-State. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Collegian Media Group and the Riley County Historical Society.

Mr. Jim Waters, Board Treasurer

Salina, KS

Waters owned 7 True Value Hardware Stores located in Junction City, Salina, Great Bend, Manhattan, Emporia, Dodge City, and Wamego. He sold them in 2019. He has served on the board of directors of the True Value company (Chicago), the Central National Bank (Kansas), was president and a board member of The Coronado Area Council Boy Scouts of America. He served on the board of trustees of Salina Regional Medical Center for 16 years and on the board of Member Insurance company (Bermuda).

His interest in railroading started as an infant and made his parents take him down to the train station in Junction City to watch the trains come in. He currently works as a car host and is the treasurer of the railroad

Mr. Dean Gier, Board Member

Wichita, KS

Gier was born and raised in Abilene. His house was across the street from where the steam engine sat in the city park. he moved to Wichita after college to work as a CAD designer at Koch Industries. Prior to retiring, Gier worked at two non-profit organizations. He married my wife Julie in 2011, and they enjoy traveling and have visited over 20 islands with more planned in the future. They have two grandsons age 6 & 9. Gier enjoys crewing on the ASVRR as a brakeman and conductor and helps with repairs on the consist. He is heavily involved in a Wichita Mustang car club and donate platelets regularly at the American Red Cross.

Mr. Ric Jung, Board Member and Volunteer Manager

Hutchinson, KS

Ric Jung has lived in Kansas since 1977 coming to the state as a broadcast radio engineer. His training is in broadcast electronics with a degree from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL and a Masters Degree in Management from Friends University, Wichita. Through the years he designed and built out Hutchinson Community College’s Radio Kansas FM network in central Kansas. He retired From radio in 2021 after 44 years of service. In 1994 he started a successful Web design business which he ran for 15 years. He and his wife reside in Hutchinson.

Railroads, and particularly Colorado narrow gauge lines and history, have been a lifelong passion. Modeling and studying Colorado rail history are ongoing. Jung has operated trains and participated in maintenance and car renovation on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad for the past 19 years. Currently, in addition, he serves on the board and manages volunteers and crew scheduling.