Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-10
Burlington
Local Head
Steps Down
G. W. Holdrege Announces
His Retirement After Fifty
One Years of ActiveNServ-
ice With the Road.
Has a Splendid Record

20. K.-G. w. H."
This symbol, familiar for many
years to those connected with the
operation of the B. & M. r. r. R.
III Nebraska, will be noted on a slip
OF paper at headquarters for the last
time three weeks from today.
George w. Holdrege, general man
ager of the c. B. & Q. lines west of
the Missouri river, will retire from
active service on Friday, December
81. His announcement is contained
in these words:
ITO personal friends III the terri
tory served by the Burlington rail.
road between the Missouri river and
the continental divide:
"For 81 years, since September,
1869, it has been my duty to aid in
he mutual development of the Bur-
lington system west fthe Missouri
river and the country it has the good
fortune to serve.
II shall retire from active service
December 81, 1920, and want to most
sincerely thank the people living in
this vast area for their kindly CO.
operation in this work, which has
been an inspiration and pleasure,
and to add that it is my intention to
continue to make my home in this
mrritory.
"I intend also in the future, as in
the past, to be OF assistance as TAR
as possible in the mutual interests OF
the Burlington railroad and the peo-
pie it serves.
G. w. HOLDREGE."
Record of Busy Life.
G. w. Holdrege was born March
2o, 1847, in New York City. He
was graduated from Harvard uni
vcrsity with the class Of '6o. He
entered railroad service in Septem-
Der, 1869, as clerk in the general
office of the B. g. M. r. R. r. in
Nebraska, at Plattsmouth. He aft
erward served as brakeman, con-
ductor and trainmaster in Iowa. Re-
turning to the Burlington lines in
Nebraska he has been consecutively
assistant superintendent, superinten-
dent, general superintendent, and as
sistant general manager, and, since
1886, as general manager Of the {:
B. & @. R. r. lines west OF Missouri
river.
The foregoing brief summary OF
the official activities of the 81 years
Arf service with the Burlington gives
little idea OF the many things
George w. Holdrcge had an active
part in. When he "hit" Nebraska,
all crossing of the river was on
ferry; the railroad he was connected
with was slowly creeping west along
the Platte river, tip Salt creek and
out into the Republican valley. Onia-
la was just feeling the impulse that
came with the driving of the golden
spike at Promontory Point, marking
the completion of the first transcon-
tinental railway. A little later the
B. & M. established connection
at Kearney, and so enjoyed some-
thing of the prestige the Iowa lines
gained by reason of the junction at
the Union Pacific transfer.
Builder in Every Way
In all the upbuilding and ex-
pansion of the railroad system, until
It has nearly 5000 miles of track in
Nebraska, and embraces Kansas,
Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming
and Montana, as we'll as the develop
tnent of the region its serves, Mr..
Holdrege has had part. His fore.
sight is responsible for the vast sums
expended in building and equipping
this part of the big Burlington sys-
tenn, while his organizing ability has
been shown in its successful opera
tion.
His interest has extended into
farming and stock raising as we'll.
and he has plenty to occupy his time
in looking after his ranch property.
In earlier days he was very active
in state politics. but has long since
withdrawn from personal participa-
ton in the campaigns. While he was
primarily engaged, as he once public
~ stated, in protecting the interest OF
the stockholders of the company,
~SsDdid take active interest in Omaha,
and served the city we'll in many
ways. His home is here, and so
far as his friends are advised he ex-
poets to enjoy something of quiet
as a plain citizen of the community
of which he has so long been an
,c<;ya and prao1;pent member