Gary Boone, a BNSF gang trackman, found an unexpected way to reconnect his community: through roller skating. What started as a father-daughter outing turned into a mission when Boone discovered that Livingston, Montana, no longer hosted community skate nights due to a shortage of functional roller skates. Determined to change that, he rallied volunteers from his church to repair over 400 pairs of skates in just three nights, breathing new life into the town’s skating scene.
“I didn’t have experience fixing skates before,” Boone said. “But from my work on the railroad, I just knew wheels had bearings and bearings have to roll.”
Fixing the skates was only half the battle. To keep the revived skate nights running, Boone and his team volunteered to staff the events to ensure everything runs smoothly, from skate distribution to repairs and returns. Four years later, their efforts have paid off—skate nights are now a cherished tradition, bringing joy to families throughout the community!
