Pages 1-76 - Springfield-Greene County Library

erleg, wife of Frisco engineer, Spring-
field, first vice-president; Mrs. Jane
Rich, widow of Frisco engineer, 1Can-
Gas City, second vice-president and
!ta. E. W. Keithley, widow of Frisco
engineer at Sulphur, Okla., third vice-
presfdent. Miss Nora Coffey, daugh-
ter of former roadniaster of Spring-
Reld, was elected secretary.
An illnovation in the program was
the "laniily lunch" at the Kentwood
Arms Hotel. Following the meeting
of the Ladies' Auxiliary, they invited
the Inell to lunch with them, where
r delightful prograni and get-together
was enjoyed.
The new officers of the auxiliary
were introduced and the group joined
in singing "I've Been Workin' On The
Railroad", led by Mrs. Walter R.
Boyd who acted as toastmistress, with
Yn. 0. S. Hull, president of the
Sprlngfleld Unit, presiding.
Nrs. Davld R. Beeler, outgoing
president, presented the invocation.
John Giilespie, accompanied by Vir-
ginia Lewis presented two delightful
Irish Folk songs and Elizabeth Call,
acconipanied by Dorothy Rathbone
gave a delightful violin solo. Mary
Ellen Schuerer, accompanied by Byron
Morton presented two old time songs
which were heartily applauded.
The feature address of the noon-day
luncheoir was made by Mrs. Robert
Whelan. She talked of Frisco fellow-
ship, and of the splendid ties, made
more secure through the annual meet-
ing of the veterans each year. She
spoke of them as pioneers and build-
era or the great Frisco system, and
mncluded her talk with an appeal to
the veterans to solicit business for
the road from which they have been
receiving their living for so many
yeare.
The Old Timers' Club, formed at the
1930 reunion, met at. the Colonial
Hotel. There was little real business
to transact, but many instances of
railroading of more than forty years
ago of whlch they talked. The ad-
dress of the morning was made by
Mr. J. E. Hutchison, who sat in the
meeting with these old timers during
the entire morning. They built the
railroad again, in memory, when the
road bed was of dirt instead of ballast;
they compnred the little diamond
stacked locomotives with the 1500's
of today, as well as the working con-
ditions and pay of forty years ago and
today.
There were twenty-nine members of
the Old Timers' Club, out of a total
of seventy-three, present. Rules pro-
vide that only those employes who
have been placed on the pension roll
with forty or more years of consecu-
live service shall be eligible.
It was decided that the members of
this club woula have a meeting Oc-
tober 20, 1931, at Pensacola, F!a. The
important business of the morning
was the election of officers and fol-
lowing the nominations, Mr. Geo.
Daniels, pensioned engineer of Ft.
Smith, Ark., with 46 years and 9
months service to his credit, was
elected president. Mr. S. L. Coover of
Springfield, 3fo., pensioned conductor
with 47 years and 11 months service,
was elected vice-president, with Mr.
W. D. Bassett, secretary of the pen-
sion board, secretary. Besldes the
regular meetiug each year at the big
reunion, other nieetings of this organ-
ization are held at the call of the
president.
This group was served dinner in a
special room provided at the Colonial
Hotel, and marched in formation of
twos, to the Shrine hlosque at 2:00
p. m., to attend a business meeting of
the entire group of veterans.
The meeting at the Mosque was
presided over by IY. L. Heath, retiring
president. Mr. Heath made a short
introductory talk, in which he said
that many of the regular engineers,
conductors and firemen were not pres-
ent at the reunion and felt that next
year, many of the regular men should
lay off and give the extra men a
chance to work their jobs, giving them
employnient as well as the regular
men the privileges of the reunion.
A slight concern was felt in the
dropping off of the attendance, and
many suggestions were made as to
how new members could be secured.
It was finally decided that each vet-
eran would make himself a committee
of one, to solicit new members, and
secure the $1.00 membership fee. A
system-wide canvass is to be made
this year, enrolling all men with
twenty years service in the organiza-
tion, and as Mr. Heath said, if it is
worthy of its existence, the veterans
reunion is worthy of better attendance
on the part of its members.
Many came this year, expecting to
make a short trip to Pensacola, Fla.,
but J. L. McCormack, secretary of the
association, advised that full and
complete data had been sent out on
the trip, and out of 800 invitations ex-
tended, there were only sixteen ac-
ceptances. Many of the members,
however, had planned to make the
trip and it was voted that following
the reunion next year, as many as de-
sired, would be taken to Pensacola,
Fla., lor a short trip.
The matter of another city in which
to hold the reunion came up, but
Springfield, Mo., remained the first
choice of those present. It is centrally
located, with facilities for caring for
the great number who attend and
Poge I1
those present voiced their sentiments
of Springfield's hospitality to its
visiting guests.
There were five new members elected
to serve on the board of directors
which included, W. D. Bassett, of St.
Louis ; Wm. Marsh, Mempliis ; Ike
Scudder, Enid; Mark Allabach, Ft.
Worth, and Will B. Hammers, Seligman,
Ark. These five took the places
made vacant by J. H. Constant, J.
Brownfield and G. A. Madden, and
Mr. Hammers took the place of Howard
Bayless, deceased.
The nominating committee presented
the names of John Forster,
"Uncle" Billy Morrill and J. L. Mc-
Cormack, for president, vice-president
and secretary. They were unanimously
elected and Mr. Forster, retired
mechanical inspector of Kansas City,
Mo., was called to the platform where
he acknowledged with deep appreciation,
the honor of serving as president
of the association for the years OK
1931-1932. The silver loving cup,
transferred at the end of each year
to the newly elected president, was
given to Mr. F'orster by Mr. Heath.
This cup was the gift of Mr. E. N.
Brown, chairman of the Board or Dfrectors
of the Frisco, and each president's
name is engraved on the cup.
The newly elected officers of the
Ladies' Auxiliary were also introduced
to the assembly, and following this, a
short memorial service was given for
the veterans who had departed this
life since last meeting date. The
list was read by Mr. J. L. McCormack,
secretary.
Tbe meeting convened at 4: 00 p. m.
and automobiles waited outside the
Mosque to take the veterans for a ride
over the city, which included the
greenhouse of Don Fellows, Fri~co
Florist. The Standard Motor Car Company
of Springfield furnished six large
cars to aid in seeing that the visitors
enjoyed the ride.
They returned to their hotels at
6:00, and at 6:30 met again at the
Shrine Mosque for the annual banquet
and farewell program of the reunion.
Music for the banquet was furnished
by Bobbie Hudgen and his orchestra,
and the plates were served by the
women employes of the general oflice
building at Springfield.
At 7:30 the guests went upst8lrs
to the auditorium, where the prograni
began immediately. Mr. W. L. Heath,
retiring president introduced the new
president, John Forster, and turned
the meeting over to &I. M. Sisson,
assistant general manager, who acted
as toastmaster. Mr. Sisson introduced
F. H. Shaffer, general manager, who
spoke most enco~~ragingly of business