Last Runs

Summer 2003
Volume 110 - No. 2

Last Runs

Chancellor stands behind BLE

Brother Wayne R. Chancellor of BLE Division 236 (Portland, Ore.) made his last run on July 31, 2002, on a terminal switcher for the Longview Switching Company.

Brother Chancellor has held many positions for the BLE at the Longview Switching Co., formerly the Longview, Portland & Northern Railroad. He joined the BLE in 1970 and began his service to the organization soon after. Through the years, he served as a Division President and Secretary-Treasurer. From 1976-1983, he served as the BLE's General Chairman on the railroad.

Brother Chancellor began his railroad career in August 1959 as a hostler for the Longview, Portland & Northern. He went firing in 1960 and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1963. He has 43 years of continuous service with the railroad. His father, Clarence Chancellor, had 31 years of service with the same carrier.

Brother Chancellor enjoys fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers and working on his 1948 Pontiac. He plans to continue these activities in his retirement, along with spending time with his wife, Carole, his three children, Robin, Ron and Carrie, and his two grandchildren.

"I stand wholeheartedly behind my BLE membership and treasure the friendship of the people I worked with," said Brother Chancellor.

The Chancellors live at: 212 McGeary Rd., Kelso, Wash. 98626.

Division 130 honors Shellenberger

Brother Shellenberger, right, is presented with a watch by Michael W. Zenner, Secretary-Treasurer of Division 130 (Kansas City, Kan.), upon retirement.

Clyde D. Shellenberger of BLE Division 130 (Kansas City, Kan.) made his last run on February 9, ending his 44-year railroad career.

Brother Shellenberger began railroading on April 4, 1959 as a fireman for the Santa Fe Railroad in Emporia, Kan. He was promoted to locomotive engineer on Nov. 16, 1963 and joined BLE Division 130 on April 1, 1974.

During his retirement, he and his wife, Barbara, plan to travel and visit family members.

The Shellenbergers live at: 14915 West 84th Street, Lenexa, Kan. 66215.

Jazz guitarist, locomotive engineer Gratton retires

From left: Brother Don Bennett; Jim "Catfish" Ward; President Barry Green; and Secretary-Treasurer Duane Heltemes.

At their May meeting, the members of BLE Division 180 (Glendive, Mont.) presented retiring member Jim "Catfish" Ward with a plaque recognizing him for his years of dedicated service to the BLE and to BNSF.

The components of the plaque were donated by the members of Division 180. The only items purchased were the locomotive and caboose. Brother Don Bennett donated the oak base, Brother Joe Borntrager had the plaque engraved locally, Brother Curt "C.J." Erhardt made arrangements for ordering the locomotive and caboose while Brother Duane Heltemes put the track and ballast on the display.

The plaque reads: "BLE Division180 would like present this award to Brother Jim 'Catfish' Ward for his years of dedicated service on the BN/BNSF Railroad from July 1973 to February 2002."

Brother Ward joined the BLE in 1991.

Like father, like son

When Brother Robert E. Harris of BLE Division 309 (Jacksonville, Fla.) ended his railroad career on August 2, 2002, another family member was just beginning his. On the very same day Brother Harris completed his last run after 32 years of railroad service, his son, Robert Harris Jr., began his own railroad career when he marked up as a switchman for CSX.

Brother Harris began his railroad career as an electrician for the Seaboard Coast Line in the machine shop in 1970. When a position as a locomotive engineer became available, he went to Jacksonville, Fla., for training and earned his promotion to the position of locomotive engineer for the Seaboard Coast Line in 1971. He joined the BLE on May 1, 1972.

Brother Harris and his wife, Theresa, have been married for 39 years. They have two children, Pamela and the previously mentioned Robert Jr. They also have two grandchildren, Robert III and Joshua.

Now that he has retired, Brother Harris and his wife plan to travel to places they have talked about for years. One of Harris's goals is to hike the Appalachian Trail. He also plans to spend quality time with his family.

The Harris's live at: 12680 Cormorant Cove Lane, Jacksonville, Fla. 32223.

Brother Jerry Graben retires after many years of service to BLE

BLE Division 157 (Jersey City, N.J.) Brother James M. Smith ended his railroad career on February 28, 2003 after 40 years and six months of injury-free service.

Brother Smith began his career in 1962 as a hostler with the Jersey Central Railroad. He went firing on July 14, 1962, and earned promotion to locomotive engineer on September 30, 1966, for the Jersey Central. From 1976 through the present, he worked for Conrail. He joined the BLE on June 1, 1966.

Brother Smith served the BLE in various capacities over the years, including as a Special Representative, Vice Local Chairman and Local Chairman.

Smith and his wife of 36 years, Irene, have three children, James, Coleen and Noreen, and four grandchildren. Brother Smith is an active member of his community. He serves as a scout master with the Boy Scouts of America, Communications Chief of the Union County, N.J. Office of Emergency Management, and Communication Coordinator of the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon. He is also a ham radio operator.

In his retirement, Brother Smith plans to fish and work with computers and his ham radio. He also plans to play with his grandchildren while teaching them to fish and camp.

The Smiths live at: 57 Williamson Ave., Hillside, N.J. 07205.

May retires

On June 22, Brother Gene A. May of BLE Division 125 (Clinton, Iowa) made his last run between Missouri Valley and Clinton, Iowa.

He began his railroad career on September 3, 1969 as a switchman on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He went firing in 1970 and was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer in 1971. He joined BLE Division 125 on September 1, 1971.

"Overall, I enjoyed working on the railroad as an engineer," he said. "I will miss some of the friendships that I had established throughout my railroad career. But I will not miss the middle of the night calls."

"I would like to thank Dan Richter and his wife for making my last run a memorable one," he said.

During his retirement, Brother May and his wife of 42 years, Patricia, plan to spend time with their daughter, Kelli, who works as a designer and illustrator in Minneapolis. The couple also plans to do some traveling. Brother May enjoys working out at the gym three or four days a week. He is also looking forward to "catching up on" his golf.

The Mays live at: 4504 9th Street, Camanche, Iowa 52730.

Division 127 honors Merring with retirement party

Many BLE Brothers and Sisters attend Thomas H. Merring's retirement party.

BLE Division 127 (North White Plains, N.Y.) held a retirement party at their monthly meeting on May 17, 2003 for Brother Thomas H. Merring.

In 1962, Brother Merring began his career on the Central New England Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in September 1964 and joined the BLE on May 2, 1965.

He is a third generation BLE member and New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad engineer. His grandfather was an engineer from 1903-1956 and his father was an engineer from 1936-1979.

During his career, Merring worked for the New Haven, Penn Central, Conrail and Metro North. He made his last run on Train 699 from Grand Central Terminal, N.Y. to Brewster, N.Y. on May 15.

Brother Merring and his wife, Olive, have been married for 40 years. They have two children and four grandchildren. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and travelling.

The Merrings can be reached at: 49 Edmunds Lane, Walden, N.Y. 12586, or at: <TwoRustyRails@aol.com>.

Knight takes pleasant memories from 39-year railroad career

Former BLE Division 696 (Atlanta) President William H. Knight Jr. made his last run on February 28, 2003 on a road switcher in Gainesville, Ga.

He served as Division President from 1998-2000 and as Division Secretary-Treasurer from 1989-1997.

Brother Knight began his railroad career in 1964 as a trainman for the Southern Railway. He went firing in May 1971 and was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer in January 1972 by the Southern Railway. He joined the BLE on June 1, 1980.

"For all of my 38 years on the railroad, I never dreaded going to work because I enjoyed it," he said. "I will miss the railroad and my friends."

He and his wife, Lee, have four children and seven grandchildren. During his retirement, he plans to play golf, fish and continue selling insurance.

Old friends may contact the Knight family by writing to: 329 William Ivey Road, Lilburn, Ga. 30047.

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