Friends of the Museum - Contributors
Mike Bahnmaier
Mike Bahnmaier owns many of the motorcycles displayed in the museum and has been gracious enough to share them for public viewing. Mike is an avid collector of vintage motorcycles and also is a professional drag bike builder, tuner, and rider. Mike has always been an avid motorcycle enthusiast. Mike built his first motorcycle out of a bicycle and a chainsaw motor when he was thirteen. In 1969, Mike bought his first motorcycle - a 1961 Harley Davidson Sportster.
Mike opened Salina (Kansas) Harley Davidson in 1978 at age 25. In 1987, he purchased Hugo's Harley Davidson in Wichita, Kansas, and changed the name to Mid-Continent Harley Davidson. In 1992, Mid-Continent re-located to a new facility.
Mike began drag racing motorcycles in the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) in 1979 competing in Top Gas. He soon progressed to Top Fuel. In 1999, Bahnmaier won the AHDRA national championship in Las Vegas. He placed second in 2000. Mike has posted a personal best of 6.76 seconds at 206 mph in the quarter mile.
In 2014, the Bahnmaier Racing Team took five bikes to Sturgis to compete in the Amsoil WMDRA Nationals. Mike was the top qualifier at Sturgis. In the finals, Mike placed second in the Top Fuel division. Teammate Freddy Robbins won the Top Fuel championship on a Bahnmaier-built ride. Recently, in August of 2015, Mike won the Amsoil WMDRA Nationals at Sturgis.
Stanion Wholesale Electric Company (Bill and Cindy Keller)
Former St. Francis resident Bill Keller and and wife Cindy, owners of Stanion Wholesale Electric Company in Pratt, Kansas, were very instrumental in the museum's construction phase. Stanion Electric donated most of the electrical equipment used in the museum building including breaker boxes, electrical wiring, conduit, switches, lighting, ceiling fans, security cameras, and a stand-by generator.
Dane G. Hansen Foundation
The Dane G Hansen Foundation located in Logan, Kansas, donated to the initial construction fund of the museum. The Foundation supports many activities and projects in the Northwest Kansas area.
Bankwest of Kansas (Dale and Linda Goodwin)
Dale and Linda Goodwin moved to Goodland in 1970. They previously lived in Wichita while Dale was employed by the U.S. Treasury Department working as a national bank examiner and Linda worked as a first and second grade teacher with the Wichita school system after obtaining her teaching certificate.
After moving to Goodland, Linda continued her teaching career in the Goodland school system, teaching second grade at West Elementary School. Dale began working at Goodland State Bank as Vice President and Cashier with his father and President of the bank, W.S. Goodwin. In 1986, Linda joined the bank team and continues her work today as the bank’s Executive Vice President along with managing all human resource activities.
The Goodland State Bank was originally chartered in 1886 as the first bank in Sherman County. W.S. Goodwin purchased the bank in 1959 from William Bunten. In 1982, Dale became the bank’s President, and began expanding the bank in 1986 with the acquisition of the Citizens State Bank in St. Francis. In 1990, he continued the expansion with the acquisition of Peoples Heritage Federal Savings & Loan in Colby. The name of the bank was changed to BankWest of Kansas in June of 2000.
Today, BankWest of Kansas continues to operate throughout Northwest Kansas, Eastern Colorado, and Southern Nebraska. The Goodwin family is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to their customers and supporting all communities however they can.
Eddy & Sherry Schultz
Eddy and Sherry Schultz donated the property for the museum site as well as a large cash donation to help the museum become a reality. Mr. Schultz has been involved in the museum planning from the beginning and now serves on the museum board.