Keith Todd retiring from KYTC

Keith Todd, a familiar face and voice to many in western Kentucky is hanging up his high-visibility vest this week.

Todd has been the Public Information Officer for District 1 of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for 20 years. He has kept everyone informed on everything from pothole repair projects, major interstate accidents and the opening of several new bridges in the area. 

Todd said he was thrown headlong into the job in 2004 with a 15-inch snow that closed I-24 and numerous roads around the area.

He worked to help drivers avoid the Eggners Ferry Bridge after the Delta Mariner crashed into it and has documented the openings of new bridges along US 60 at Ledbetter and Smithland. Those are just a few of the projects he has been involved in during his time at KYTC. 

Through it all, he has tried to tell the stories of those men and women who are out on the roads, in many cases, in harm's way. 

Todd said there are about 200 employees in District 1 in Paducah and just over 200 in District 2 in Madisonville, that are "Out there, every day, working in 70 mph traffic, risking their lives to patch potholes and do the work that's required to keep everybody else safe and on the road. I just have a lot of admiration for our crews that are out there doing that every day."  

Todd also expressed respect for the Kentucky State Police and law enforcement agencies that are out on the roads, as well.

Todd, who has had several successful careers including time as a broadcaster at WKYQ and WKYX, along with a stint in television, and operating his own business before going to work at KYTC, told West Kentucky Star that after some hunting and fishing, this fall, he'll probably find something else to occupy his time. 

He said, "I'm using that journalistic credo of, sometimes in the interest of accuracy, it pays to be vague." Whatever that may be, we wish our friend well.




Photo courtesy of Keith Todd Facebook