Taylor, Watson retire following decades of service to KDOT

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s District 6 is recognizing the retirements of two longtime employees, Steve Taylor and Jolene Watson, whose careers spanned decades of service to the district.

Steve Taylor

After more than 26 years of dedicated service with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), Steve Taylor retired on July 17.

Taylor joined KDOT on April 3, 2000, as the District Administrative Officer in Garden City. During his career, he played an important role in supporting District 6 operations, providing leadership and administrative guidance while helping the district’s day-to-day functions.

Taylor’s commitment, knowledge and years of service made a lasting impact on District 6 and the employees he worked alongside.

Jolene Watson

After more than 22 years of combined service with the Kansas Department of Transportation, Jolene Watson retired on July 1.

Watson’s KDOT career began Sept. 18, 1990, when she was hired as a temporary utility worker. She was promoted to office assistant that December and to engineering technician associate in April 1994 before leaving the department in September 1995.

Watson returned to KDOT in July 2008 as an area office manager. After a second departure in April 2013, she rejoined the department later that year as a temporary area office manager before being promoted to accountant in December 2013, a role she held until her retirement.

Across her years with KDOT, Watson brought steady institutional knowledge to District 6 and built lasting relationships with the colleagues she worked alongside.

District 6 extends its sincere appreciation to Steve and Jolene for their many years of service and wishes them both a happy and well-deserved retirement.