April 24, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

Oklahoma business owner and Champion of the Heartland Flyer, Judi Elmore, heard her last train horn sound on Tuesday April 22nd, when the daily service stopped to pick up passengers in the Sooner city of Ardmore. 

Judi led a group of dedicated citizens and worked with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Amtrak to establish daily train service from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth. The Heartland Flyer made its first trip from Oklahoma City to Ft. Worth on June 14, 1999 as a federally funded joint venture between Amtrak and ODOT, ending a 20-year absence of passenger rail service in Oklahoma.

She was insturmental in coordinating the Heartland Flyer Coalition and a strong supporter of Texas Eagle Marketing and Performance Organization (TEMPO). The Heartland Flyer connects with Amtrak's national network train, the Texas Eagle, at Fort Worth. 

Judi previously served as president of Ardmore Main Street's Board of Directors. From originating the idea of The Black Gold Festival in Ardmore, to building alliances promoting passenger rail service in the state to running her own business, Judi Elmore puts her heart and soul into anything she did.

Elmore and her husband, Lynn, owned and operated an antique store in Ardmore, established in 1988. Prior to that she managed the family’s farming and longhorn breeding operation for eight years. She also worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 14 years, first as an administrative assistant and then as an air traffic controller.

Judi was born July 26, 1946. She was diagnosed with dementia and early Alzheimers in 2024. Judi did not want a funeral ceremony and her wish was to be cremated and ashes spread in Florida, where she was born.

Judi is pictured with Amtrak Conductor Robert Villarreal, who worked the Heartland Flyer in 2015. 

On November 19, 2003 in the Daily Ardmoreite newspaper, Heartland Flyer Coalition Chairwoman Judi Elmore said “Ridership for October was up an astonishing 51.3 percent over October 2002. Revenue for the same period was up 49.9 percent.” Judi was quoted as saying “We’ve started the new fiscal year off with a bang,” 

She attributed the increases to the hard work of the coalition and increased media attention for special events such as monthly wine tastings, Halloween train, the annual popular OU/Texas train and other events. Elmore says there is an increased emphasis on the fact rail is a viable alternative method of transportation. “With the increase in speed to 79 mph, the Heartland Flyer can now travel to Fort Worth (Texas) in about the same time as you can travel by car, no hassle with traffic, no waiting for construction, no road rage,” she said.

In September 16, 2006 she was quoted in the journalrecord.com saying “Another goal is to expand passenger rail service to other communities within the state. At our own expense, our coalition spends countless hours educating citizens about the benefit of rail travel through advertising, special events on board the Heartland Flyer, attending out-of-state meetings, networking with other states’ passenger rail associations, and working with our state legislators to secure funding for passenger rail. Last session, through our efforts and those of state Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, we were able to secure a $2 million annual earmark for the Heartland Flyer.”

Back in 2005-2006, funding for contining the train was in jeopardy until Senator Crutchfield (D) Ardmore, helped secure passage of Oklahoma House Bill 1078, which authorizes $2 million annually, leaving the remainder $2 million to be secured from other sources. “This is the news we’ve been waiting for,” said Judi Elmore, chairman of the coalition.

That "other source" was the Texas Department of Transportation. At the Southwestern Rail Conference, then TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz was asked why Texas was not partnering with ODOT for the train. Sanez agreed that the train service was needed. The end result: Texas Transportation Commission officials reached across the Red River and offered a $2 million handshake the Sooner State had been waiting for.

Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Phil Tomlinson was advised by Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, that they concurred as to the importance of the passenger rail service to both states and he would recommend that Texas participate in half of the cost.

Now funding from Texas is in jeopardy during the current legislative session that ends in early June. Advocates are engaged with Texas lawmakers to help them understand that the train brings passengers to Fort Worth that support local economies through sales taxes, restaurant and hotel bookings, transportation options as well as spending for tourist attractions in North Texas. 

Last year the Heartland Flyer carried over 80,000 passengers and had one of the best customer service ratings of any Amtrak national or state service. Approximately 30 percent of Heartland Flyer passengers connect to the national rail system by transferring to Amtrak's Texas Eagle, in Fort Worth.

A post from Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari noted that "all of us hope our time on earth makes a difference, whether with a family, a business or a movement. In the case of Judi, it was all three."

Photo credit: Facebook