The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has selected Herman Crosson, Chief Safety and Compliance Officer at Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH), as Safety Professional of the Year, and Edwin “Ed” McKechnie for the 2025 Schlosser Distinguished Service Award. Both will be honored at the ASLRRA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Denver, Colo.
“This is an honor that belongs to everyone in the Anacostia family,” Crosson said in ACH’s Feb. 5 announcement of his award. “It is a privilege to lead the company’s strong team of professional railroaders. From new hires to our seasoned veterans, all are laser focused on the safety of their fellow workers, community, and shippers.”
Crosson, who has 26 years’ experience in the railroad industry, joined ARH in 2022. During his military service, he was a Brigade Commander as well as Chief of Staff in the South Carolina Army National Guard.
In 2024, Pacific Harbor Line (PHL)—an ARH railroad—received the ASLRRA President’s Award for Safety and the Jake Safety Award. PHL for the past three years has received three President’s Awards. During the past 11 years, it also won eight Jake Awards. All six ARH railroad has received ASLRRA safety awards, including the President’s and/or Jake awards for exceptional safety performance.
“We know Herman as someone who cares deeply about the safety of our team,” said Peter Gilbertson, President and CEO at ARH. “He more than meets the criteria for this top industry safety award. This is a well-deserved recognition, and we are proud to have him on our team.”
According to ASLRRA, the Safety Professional of the Year is open to any railroad management employee of a member railroad who is responsible for safety programs, training, and the overall management of safe behavior and actions on their railroad(s), and “whose job is safety on a full-time basis.” Examples include manager of training, director of safety and operations, safety manager, head of safety and training, etc.
ACH noted that among the criteria for recognition, an honoree must be:
- “An excellent communicator, motivator, and has the ability to organize others for a common purpose in the interest of safety.
- “Selfless in his or her actions, and does not do their job for recognition, but for results.
- “One who produces documentable safety achievements as a team leader.
- “Respected by peers, senior management, and subordinates alike as a teacher and true safety professional.
- “Having other traits or characteristics that make them worthy of winning the ASLRRA Safety Professional of the Year Award.”
McKechnie has earned ASLRRA’s 2025 Schlosser Distinguished Service Award, honoring his decades of service to the short line industry and the Association.
The Schlosser Distinguished Service Award, named for former ASLRRA Chair Thomas L. Schlosser, is the highest individual honor bestowed by the ASLRRA, recognizing “long-term, significant service to the ASLRRA and the short line industry.”
“Before he was active in the short line industry and helping guide ASLRRA member parent company Watco through a tremendous period of growth, Ed McKechnie spent years in public service, first in the Kansas Governor’s office, as a congressional staff member in Washington D.C., and then as a member of the Kansas Legislature,” ASLRRA reported during its Feb. 5 award announcement. “While representing Watco as a member of the Association, he played a significant role in moving two short line industry-critical ideas forward—the Short Line Tax Credit, and the Short Line Safety Institute.”
McKechnie graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1986, and held several different jobs with political offices before successfully running for the Kansas state legislature in 1990. In the decade he held his seat, he served on committees including transportation, appropriations, Legislative Post Audit, governmental organization and higher education. In 2000, McKechnie joined Watco to lead commercial and business development, focusing on growing the business and finding new opportunities in the transportation industry. Representing ASLRRA member Watco in ASLRRA work, McKechnie brought his talents back to Washington to influence Congress. He was a member of ASLRRA’s Railroad Industry Working Group and Finance & Administration Committee and served on the Executive Committee in various capacities. In 2011, McKechnie was elected Chair of ASLRRA’s Board of Directors. While working in different private-sector roles, McKechnie continued to serve his home state of Kansas. In recognition of his accomplishments, Pittsburg State University awarded McKechnie the Meritorious Achievement Award in 2016. His service to Kansas was documented as part of the Kansas Oral History project. He is special assistant to the vice president, business development and government relations at Pittsburg State University, and has served for seven years on the Pittsburg Unified School District (USD) 250 School Board where, combined with his work at Pittsburg State, he was the original author of legislation, called the Kansas Literacy Blueprint, that was signed into law in 2024.
“Ed’s impact on the short line industry is legendary,” ASLRRA President Chuck Baker said. “His legislative and business career has been focused on driving transformational change in every organization he has been involved with. At ASLRRA, his leadership as Chair of our Board of Directors, and his steering of the Legislative Policy Committee led to two Congressional mandates that have been instrumental in assisting short lines in their relentless drive to improved safety—the Short Line Rehabilitation Tax Credit (45G), and the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI). The former has led to $9B of investment in upgraded rail and bridges to date, addressing the leading cause of derailments on short lines. The SLSI is focused on elevating safety culture, prioritizing safety on short line railroads over other competing demands. Our industry is certainly better as a result of Ed’s contributions and relentless drive to make it so.”
