Winter 2000
Volume 107 - No. 4
Winter 2000
Volume 107 - No. 4
Last Runs
Iowa Legislative Board Chairman Giblin retires
Iowa State Legislative Board Chairman John G. Giblin made his last run as a Union Pacific yard engineer on August 28, 2000.
Giblin's career began with the Milwaukee Road doing section work while
he was a junior in high school, but he was quickly promoted to switchman.
Shortly after high school, he hired on the Rock Island Railroad as a fireman
while he attended Kemper Military Academy and Coe College in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa.
At the age of 20, he entered the Army as a non-commissioned officer and was trained as a nuclear weapons inspector. After his discharge in 1962, Giblin returned to railroad service on the Rock Island as a fireman and was promoted to engineer four months later. He joined BLE Division 833 in 1963.
He was elected President of Division 833 in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1967. For eight years, from 1972-1980, Brother Giblin served as Local Chairman of Division 833. In 1977, he was elected Iowa State Legislative Board Chairman and served in that position until retirement.
After the 1980 acquisition of the Rock Island by Chicago & Northwestern, Giblin continued his service as a locomotive engineer and retired while working on the UP. In 1996, he transferred to BLE Division 778.
During his long career, Giblin saw wages increase from $14.50 a day to $198 a day. He attributes this increase largely to the efforts of the BLE.
Brother Giblin and his wife of 38 years, Janice, have two sons (Todd and Steven) and four grandchildren. During his retirement, he is looking forward to spending more time with his sons and grandchildren. Giblin also plans on camping, shopping for antiques and working his acreage with Janice.
The Giblins live at: 1516 64th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50311.
Caption: Brother Giblin has pledged to spend more time with his grandchildren during his retirement years.
After 34 years, 'Big Dog' Thorn eager
to enjoy the good life
Brother Thorn began his career as a fireman on October 26, 1966 for
the Chicago Great Western Railroad and ended it on the 02 job out of Des
Moines, Iowa. After going firing with the Chicago Great Western Railroad,
he was promoted to engineer in October 1968. He also joined BLE Division
778 that year.
During his career, Brother Thorn worked for the Chicago Great Western, Chicago Northwestern and the Union Pacific Railroads, first in the freight pool before settling down on a switch engine.
As an example of the esteem he commands from his co-workers and management alike, Brother Thorn was the recipient of the June Employee of the Month on the Twin City Service Unit.
Howard and his wife of 30 years, Deborah, are long time residents of Des Moines. The couple have four children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. When not working or spending time with his family, Brother Thorn enjoys hunting and fishing. He is looking forward to doing more of both now that he is retired. He is especially eager to see how it feels to sleep past 5 a.m.
The Thorns live at: 2046 E. Grand, Des Moines, Iowa 50317.
Caption: Howard "Big Dog" Thorn
Thompson never regretted joining BLE
Brother Thompson began his railroad career in 1956 as a fireman on the
Chicago and Northwestern out of Madison, Wisc. After serving in the U.S.
Army from 1959-1962, he resumed his railroad career and was promoted to
engineer in April 1966. He was initiated into BLE Division 872 in December
1965.
A graduate of Beloit High School in Beloit, Wisc., he married his wife Penny in 1968. The couple has four children and 11 grandchildren.
Thompson plans to spend his retirement hunting and fishing. He is also an avid photographer.
"I never regretted joining the BLE," Thompson said. "I was proud of my membership in this organization."
The Thompsons live at: 180901 County Rd. B, Mitchell, NE 69357.
Caption: Brother Jerry E. Thompson, left, examines the Chicago & Northwestern model locomotive presented by Division 303 Local Chairman Floyd Manning, right, upon his retirement after a 44-year career on the rails.
Attention Retirees
We need your stories
BLE members planning to retire in coming months should register with the International Division in order to have their Last Run published in the Locomotive Engineers Journal.
Upon contacting the ID's Public Relations Department, retirees will be sent a "biographical data sheet" which will be used in writing their Last Run article. Members are encouraged to include comments, anecdotes or stories about their railroad career. Color photographs of the Last Run, or of other recent events, are also welcomed.
Last Runs are printed on a first-received, first-published basis, so members are encouraged to contact the ID as soon as possible. For details or a biographical data sheet, contact:
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers