The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-11
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS MEN
 PAY TRIBUTE TO F. (. SHEEP ARD
Retiring L. & N. official Re
 ceiveS Gift.
As Evidence of Esteem Nferchants snA Shippers Present Him With. Haad- some Chest of siiver-No Changes in once
 Ferca \

A remarkable tribute of esteem tor Frank C. Shepard, retiring general freight agent of the Louisville and Nasnviie Railroad Company was expressed yester- day morning at Il o'clock when a com mittee representing hfty-two mercnants and business houses, practically every large shipper in Montgomery, called az the ofIice of Mir. Shepard and presented him with q massive rosewood chest or silver, the handsomest that could be pur- chased in Montgomery. It was, the committee told Mir, Shepard. a simple token of esteem. a material ex- pression of the regard of the business men of Montgomery for his conspicuous ability, his devotion to the interests given to his keeping and the cordial spirit in which MT. Shepard had ever met patrons of his company who had deal ings with him.
 The announcement was made several days ago, it will be remembered. that MT. Shepard would be transferred to Owensboro, Ky, by the railroad company and that he would be succeeded in Mont gcrnery by E. A. DeFuniak, general agent of the company in Birmingham Mir. DeFuniak will reach Montgomery this morning to take up his new duties and Mfr. Shepard will leave for Ken lucky tomorrow night.
 Esteemed by All Classes.
 It is doubtful if the transfer of rail- road official from Montgomery ever caused as much general regret among all classes as the departure of MT. Shepard. For nine years he has been a leading figure in every movement that made for the upbuilding of Montgomery. Tn civic affairs, in industrial movements. in the church and social life of Mont gomery he has played a prominent part His activity and energy in matters which enlisted his sympathy were known to all of Montgomery. His modest bear ing his broad minded consideration of those things which affected all of tbe people, his charity toward his fellows, his earnest devotion to his religion, while always displaying tolerance for the views of others. These characteristics made Frank Shepard one who was admired by those who knew him but slightly; they drew to him hundreds, perhaps thousands of citibens who love him, who believe that he represents the highest type of American citizenship. . And Frank Shepard loves Montgomery and Montgomerians
 Looking out from his window in the second story of the Montgomery Union railway station yesterday. across the piles of brick and stone that proudly raised their heads. monuments of the in dustrial activity of Montgomery, Frank Shepard sighed and as his eyes again rested on the elegant chest of silver he spoke as one who was laying down the best years of his life and passing away. conscious of having done what he could. Yes, these people must love me-" he said. And I love them. all of them. Surely they have been good to me. They are good people. I would be unworthy . fhor nd twill hlaQS Is blessing such people. love Mont gomery as I may never be given to love another city and go away with keenest regret"
 A Spontaneous Movement.
 The movement which crystalliSed Into the presentation of the chest of silver to Mir Shepard was spontaneous. No one seemed to know where It began. No one went out and raised the money. Mer- chants of Commerce Street. manufactu- rers. agents of great English cotton con cerns which ship thousands upon thou sands of bales annually, brokers, job bers-all combined in a generous volunta- " offering to make known in a material way their regard for Mir Shepard
 At il o'clock yesterday morning the presents ton was made. The committee consisting of Captain J. W. Black, dis trict manager of the Southern Cotton oil Company and Henry c. Davidson lead Ing real estate and insurance broker, called at the office of MT. Shepard. Op- portunely they found with him Rev. Neal l.. Anderson. pastor of the Central Pres byterian Church. of which Mir. Shepard is an elder and Leslie L. Gilbert, Sec retary of the Montgomery Commercial and Industrial Association These gen. tIemen were there to express their regret at the early departure of MT. Shepard and the committee invited them to re- main At signal the entire office force csmc into the room and Captain Black made known to MT. Shepard the purpose of the committee.
 Presented by Capt. Black.
 After expressing briefly and simply the cause which moved the merchants and shippers to pay this tribute, Cap tain Black requested Rev. Mir. Anderson to read the following letter prepared by the business men which was done.
 Montgomery, Ala, May 10. 1904. MT. F. c. Shepard.
 General Freight Agent,
 Louisville and Nashville Railroad, -Dear Sir:
 "As the traffic official and medium through which we have had to deal with your line, we the merchants and shippers of Montgomery, Alabama, on the eve of your departure desire to present you this enduring testimonial as an evidence of our thorough appre- station of your work and service at this place. .....
 We also wish to testify to the uni form courtesy and. prompt attention which you have given to all matters, which we have had occasion from time to time to take up with you.
 without reflection upon either your iamented predecessor or upon your successor, we feel it our duty and pleasure to say that we are sure no man could have been more loyal to the trust confided, or more conservative and painstaking in dealing with pat rons of the road.
 "In bidding you good bye: While we regret the unhappy necessity that re moves you from us, we beg to express the hope that your lot will be cast in a field of labor that will not lonly be congenial to you, but one that will value your work and worth as much as does the community which you are about to leave, and to which you have SO endeared yourself during your resi- dence here.
 with best wishes for your contin- ued success and happiness, -- we subscribe ourselves,
 "J P. Ferrall, F. B. Fisk, W. B. Tan ner. Johnstone and Hammond. Marks and Gayle, J. G. Seibs. Charles s. Hinkley, J. W. Black. E. R. Taber.- M. Sabel & Sons. W. F. vandiver & Co.,, B. Wolf, J. Loeb Grocery Co. G. W.