Moving the Footsteps of Presidents

By Michael Patrick, Marketing Specialist at Koch Logistics

Walking Through History
Johnston & Murphy has produced a pair of handcrafted shoes for every U.S. president from Millard Fillmore in 1850 to the current sitting president, Donald Trump. These shoes are a unique piece of history, each highlighting the style of the time as well as the individual preferences and needs of each president. Genesco, the parent company of Johnston & Murphy, has expertly preserved this history through a traveling exhibit showcasing the footwear of fifteen different presidents, including legendary figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and more.
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This traveling exhibit moves across the country each year, giving thousands of people a glimpse into the clothing styles of the past and the opportunity to ponder the footsteps taken by some of the most influential figures in the history of the United States. The transportation of the presidential footwear from venue to venue requires a high degree of visibility and special care to preserve and protect the exhibit. For several years now, Genesco has trusted the expertise of the Expedite team at Koch Logistics to manage the transportation of this priceless exhibit.

Transportation Fit for a President
The project began with the transportation of the exhibit from Johnston & Murphy to one of Koch Logistics’ trusted consolidation and final‑mile delivery partners in the Chicago area. From there, the team managed the careful, time‑sensitive delivery of the exhibit to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, where the footwear was first put on display. Following the convention, the exhibit was retrieved and transported back to Chicago, where it was delivered to O’Hare Airport and placed on display inside the Johnston & Murphy store. The process repeats for the final leg of the journey where the exhibit was put on display at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After completing its tour between venues, the exhibit was transported back to the partner facility in Chicago and then safely returned to Johnston & Murphy. Projects like this exemplify the Koch Logistics Expedite team’s commitment to a high level of service, highlight their ability to manage important, time‑critical logistics projects, and give us a chance to move pieces of American history along the way.

You can learn more about the legacy of Johnston & Murphy and the Presidential Footwear Collection here. If you would like to learn more about Koch Logistics, please reach out to [email protected] for more information, or visit www.kochlogistics.com.