Fall/Winter 2003
Volume 110- No. 3 & 4
Fall/Winter 2003
Volume 110- No. 3 & 4
Honor Rolls
Lounsbury receives 40-year pin from Division 144
Brother Lounsbury receives a 40-year pin from Richard Barnes, Local Chairman of Division 144.
Former Sixth Alternate International Vice-President and Local Chairman E.D. "Gene" Lounsbury of BLE Division 144 (Oakland, Calif.) celebrated 40 years of membership in the BLE on May 1, 2003.
He was recognized at BLE Division 144's regular business meeting and given a 40 year pin.
Brother Lounsbury began his railroad career in 1949 as a coach cleaner on the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oakland, Calif. He went firing on a steam engine for Southern Pacific on June 26, 1951 and fired on steam engines until 1958. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer on November 21, 1961, and joined the BLE on May 1, 1963. Brother Lounsbury worked for Amtrak from 1986 until his retirement in 1995.
Brother Lounsbury is a U.S. Navy Veteran.
During his 40 years as a BLE member, Brother Lounsbury held many offices in the organization. He served as local chairman of Division 283 for three terms, hosted the International Western Convention in 1979, was a delegate the International Division convention three times and held various offices on the California State Legislative Board.
In 1995, Brother Lounsbury was the first signer of BLE Division 144's charter.
Brother Lounsbury enjoys wood working and welding and is the President of the Old Rail's Club in Oakland.
Brother Lounsbury lives at: 436 Nabor Street, San Leandro, Calif. 94578.
Brother Meador and his wife Mildred.
Former BLE Division 239 (Knoxville, Tenn.) Local Chairman Everett D. Meador was presented with a 40 year BLE membership pin at his 90th birthday party in August. BLE International Vice-President Paul Wingo, Division 239 Local Chairman Bill Overton and Division 239 Legislative Representative Jerald Limbaugh made the presentation.
At the party, attended by approximately 60 of Brother Meador's family and friends, Meador talked about his love of the BLE and all the good things the organization brought him.
"At the time when I began my railroad career on December 4, 1940, most engineers were old and didn't want us boys in the BLE," said Brother Meador. "But with the help of Worth Quillen and A.F. Vandergriff, we slowly grew. With the help of new blood, J. Limbaugh, W.M. Overton, Vince Hodge and R.E. Andrews, I was able to have a strong BLE when I retired."
From the time he hired on in 1940 until his last run in 1983, Brother Meador was employed by the Southern Railway. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer in 1946 and joined the BLE in 1947.
He served as BLE Division 239's secretary-treasurer in the 1950s and 1960s and as a local chairman in the 1970s. He also served as secretary-treasurer to the Southern Railway BLE General Committee of Adjustment.
Brother Meador's first wife died in 1981 after 43 years of marriage. He remarried in 1992. He has two daughters and a son; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The Meador's live at: 4138 Buffat Mill Rd., Knoxville, Tenn. 37914.
Sly joined BLE on a promise in 1960; Still a proud member
Brother Sly submits this photo of his father-in-law, Ed Larson, in front of a 2661 Class A-3, 4-8-4 Baldwin Locomotive (5,000 horsepower) Brother Sly and his father-in-law ran this locomotive together in through freight service between Fargo and Mandan. Larson was Local Chairman of Division 202 in Dilworth, Minn., and "held the Division togther for years," Brother Sly says.
Brother LeRoy Sly joined the BLE in 1960 after making a promise to his brother-in-law, a BLE member who was dying of cancer. He has remained a member since that time and retired in 1986.
When he was dying, James Lewis made Brother Sly, a member of BLE Division 202 (Dilworth, Minn.) promise him that Sly would leave the BLF&E and join the BLE. Brother Sly promised that he would do it.
"He was a great engineer and a professional instructor on steam power," said Brother Sly.
Brother Sly had many relatives who worked on the railroad and he began working as a fireman on the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1943 and was promoted to locomotive engineer by the Northern Pacific in 1953. He joined the BLE in 1960 and made his last run in September 1986. He and his father-in-law, Edward Larson, worked together in thru-freight service. Brother Larson was a member of Division 202 and served as that division's local chairman.
"I never felt like a true union member until I joined the BLE," said Brother Sly. "I am very proud of the BLE."
During his membership in the BLE, Brother Sly served as a local chairman of BLE Division 202 and on the division's grievance committee. He was also a delegate to the International Division Convention.
Brother Sly and his wife, Shirley, were married on September 14, 1949. The couple has three children, Lynda, Pauline and James, and four grandchildren.
Brother Sly is a member of the Foreign Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoys woodworking, hunting and fishing. His motto is: "Why work when you can fish."
When he is not fishing, you can write to Brother Sly at: 301 3rd St. NE, Dilworth, Minn. 56529.
Mauck of Division 325 marks 44th anniversary in BLE
Brother George E. Mauck of BLE Division 325 (Wilkinsburg, Pa.) celebrated 44 years of BLE membership in 2003.
In 1941, Brother Mauck began his railroad career as a fireman on the Erie Railroad in Erie, Pa. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer by the Erie Railroad in 1952 and joined the BLE in 1959. He made his last run for Conrail in 1978.
"I ran the last steam engine in the Kent Yards and the last switch engine too," said Brother Mauck.
Brother Mauck and his wife, Doris, have been married since 1964. They have four children, Mary, Edward, Betsy and Ellen; 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The Maucks live at: 387 Silver Oaks Dr. Apt. 4, Kent, Ohio 44240.
Attention Retirees!
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.
In addition to Last Runs, Honor Rolls are published in recognition of members who have at least 40 consecutive years of BLE membership. Longtime BLE members should inquire for more details.
For more details, members should contact the following:
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© 2003 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers