Summer 2000
Volume 107 - No. 2
Summer 2000
Volume 107 - No. 2
Last Runs
On February 18, Brother Stewart D. Ebersole of BLE Division 886 (Wilmington,
Del.) made his last run on a traveling switcher in York, Pa.
Brother Ebersole joined the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1960 as a fireman in Baltimore. He was promoted to locomotive engineer on June 1, 1966, and joined BLE Division 851 in 1982.
During his career, he worked for the Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak and retired from the Norfolk Southern.
During his retirement, Brother Ebersole plans to go back to coaching football. He has four children - Kimberly, Vickie, Lisa and Stewart - and nine grandchildren.
"I believe strongly in unions," Ebersole said. "I enjoyed the people I worked with very much."
Brother Ebersole resides at: 218 Winterstown Rd., Red Lion, Pa. 17356.
Photo: Brother Ebersole
'Buck' Jackson retires after 34 years
On Jan. 12, 2000, Lennie R. "Buck" Jackson of BLE Division
336 (Osawatomie, Kan.) made his last run. After 34 years and six months
on the railroad, he had decided to retire.
Brother Jackson began his railroad career on Aug. 15, 1965 as a brakeman on the MKT in Franklin, Mo. He went firing in September 1973 and was promoted to engineer in June 1974. He became a member of BLE Division 556 on Dec. 1, 1973.
On Nov. 1, 1989, he went to work for Union Pacific and worked there until his retirement earlier this year.
Brother Jackson and his wife, Frances, have two sons, Steven and Eric. During his retirement, Jackson plans to woodwork, hunt and travel.
The Jacksons live at: P.O. Box, New Franklin, Mo. 65274.
Photo: Buck Jackson
Farming and fishing await Macomber during retirement years
Marion Macomber of BLE Division 790 (Chicago) made his last run on Aug. 26, 1999 on a relief crew in the Bensenville, Ill. Terminal.
Macomber hired out as a fireman in 1966 on the Milwaukee Road in Bensenville,
Ill. He was promoted to engineer in 1970 and became a BLE member that same
year. His brother George continues to work for Canadian Pacific Railway
in Bensenville.
Macomber and his wife of 42 years, Marjorie, have two children, Denise and Mark, and two grandchildren.
During his retirement, Macomber will continue his hobbies of farming and race cars. He also plans on taking his two grandchildren, Kyle and Alex, fishing.
The Macombers live at: Rt. 3, Box 177, Lancaster, Mo. 63548.
Photo: Brother Macomber inside his cab.
Honor Rolls
Willard proud of 50 year BLE membership pin
World War II veteran Ralph Willard of BLE Division 237 (Fort Scott,
Kan.) received his 50-year BLE membership pin earlier this year.
Brother Willard served as a member of the 711th Railway Operating Battalion stationed in Ahwaz, Iran, from 1942-45 and was recently lauded by the Russian Government for his participation in the war effort.
During WWII, his battalion moved supplies and food to the Russian Army.
For this reason, in 1997, 
former Russian President Boris Yeltsin
awarded him a medal for his courage and personal contribution to the Allied
support of Russia in the country's fight against the Nazis.
Willard comes from a family of railroaders. His grandfather, father and other relatives were in engine service.
Before leaving for the war, Willard went firing on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway in Fort Scott, Kan. on Dec. 25, 1939, and he was promoted to engineer upon his return from the war in 1947. He joined BLE Division 237 in 1950.
Brother Willard was Chief Engineer of BLE Division 237 from 1970-1978. He made his last run on August 7, 1978.
Since his retirement, Willard has continued to be an active member of the Fort Scott community. He is a long-time member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Masons, the Scottish Rite, the Shriners and the Elks. He has also painted and maintained a caboose located at a local park.
"Each day, I try to help someone else," said Brother Willard.
Willard and his wife, Jean, have three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
"I feel so good being a loyal BLE member over the years and greatly appreciate the many benefits that I have received from the organization," said Willard.
The Willards live at: 1705 Westbury, Fort Scott, Kan. 66701.
Photos: Brother Willard as a busy retiree (above left) and as a young man during World War II (above right).
Claude Thompson Jr. and Sr. were tops in seniority
Brother Claude Thompson Jr. of BLE Division 708 achieved Honor Roll status with over 40 years as a member of the BLE.
In 1983, Brother Thompson held the number one seniority position on the Rock Island Railroad just as his father, Claude Thompson Sr., held the number one seniority position on the UP in 1958.
Claude Thompson Sr. hired out in 1905 and retired in 1958 as the number one engineer in seniority on the Union Pacific. His son hired out as a fireman on the Rock Island in 1944 and was promoted to engineer in 1958.
Claude Thompson Jr. made his last run in 1984 on a switch engine in the Kansas City Yard.
Brother Thompson and his wife Lenor have been married for 11 years. He has four children and three grandchildren. Since his retirement, he has enjoyed golfing and dancing.
"The BLE was very good to my father and I," said Thompson. "I have always appreciated all of the work they have done."
The Thompsons live at: 7250 E. Juanita Ave., Mesa, AZ 85208.
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers