, 1924-06-05
RAILROAD
ORGANIZATION
BORN OF DINNER

BOkN OF DINNER
The banquet held at the Plains
hotel last Thursday night in honor
of Robert 1. Turner and Joseph A.
Gilman, both retiring after long
service with the Union Pacific, held
a special meaning since an "old-
timers" organization open to men
who have served more than a score
of years was there born.
The Tribune states that:
Five thousand years of service
We're represented by guests at a din
ner at the Plains hotel Thursday
night, given by the officers of the
Union Pacific Railroad company in
honor of two veteran employees who
had just been placed on the pension
roll. At the dinner a new Union
Pacific organization was born - an
'old timers" association, to mem
bership in which only persons who
have been employed by the Union
Pacific 20 years or longer are elig-
ible.
The dinner was in honor of Joseph
A. Gilman, OF Cheyenne, general
roadmaster, retiring after 81 years
in the Union Pacific's employ and
81 years of railroad service, and
Robert l. Turner, of Rawlins, engi-
neer, retiring after AZ years with
the Union Pacific. General Super
intendent A. w. Woodruff was toast
master. The guests chiefly from the
Wyoming division of the Union Pa
cific, numbered 201. General Man
ager w. M. LETTERS and General
C~l -- H.
were present.
timers" association be organized
was made by Joseph C. Williams, Of
Cheyenne, engineer with nearly 40
years on his Union Pacific service
record, after conclusion of the form
al program Of speeches that follow
ed discussion of an elaborate menu
that included mountain trout and
fried chicken. Mr.. Williams pro-
posal was seconded by w. l.. Rich
ards, veteran North Platte engineer,
and was enthusiastically received by
the assemblage. Organization of
the Cheyenne chapter of the pro-
posed association was proceeded
with at once, Mr.. Williams being
elected chairman by acclamation and
the following. representing the var
ious branches of the service, appoint
ed a committee to draft a constitu-
ton and bylaws: William Storey,
conductor, secretary; John Carroll,
engineer; Sam Ellis, clerk: Ike
Davis. mechanical department: John
Clarity, track department; George
Hobbs, switchman, and Joseph Ott-
man, maintenance of way depart
ment. This committee met Friday
morning in the offices of General
Superintendent Woodruff.
In expressing approval OF the "old
timers" association. General Man
! ager LETTERS suggested that officials
OF the Union Pacific eligible to men,
bership should not be eligible to
hold offices in the association which
he said, preferably should be officer
ed from the ranks OF the employees.
4, General superintendent Woodruff.
whose service record with the Union
| Pacific covers IS years, expressed
regret that he was not a 20-year
man and eligible to become q chart
err member of the association.
, Speakers on the formal program,
/ each gracefully introduced by Mr..
; Woodruff. were n. II. LOOMS, Oma-
ha, general solicitor; A. l.. Konold,
| l<tI b'D'l"i ~ N''
| brotherhood of Locomotive Engin-
GERS OF the Union Pacific system;
J.. j. Mcintosh, attorney. Sidney,
Neb., son of a pioneer employe of
the Union Pacific: General Manager
w. NJ, Jefrers, and the honorees,
Joseph A. Ottman, Cheyenne. and
Robert l. Turner, Rawlins.
Each of the honorees was pre-
scented n handsome suitcase. for use
during their travels now that they
have time to travel for pleasure,
that given Mr.. Turner being the Gift
OF Korein Temple. Mystic Shrine. OF
Rawlins, and that given Mr.. Ottman
the gift OF the section men OF the
Union Pacific. The section workers
earlier had presented Mrs. Ottman
a check TO cover the expenses OF n
trim to California which she and
Mr.. Ottman are planning to take
soon. Before Mr.. Ottman's seat at
the speakers table was n boquct
of beautiful carnations. sent. Mr..
Woodruff announced by one whom
MIR. Ottman had known AZ n little
girl' Mrs. letters. wife OF the Cen
eral Manager. ,
Ninety-three years in railroad
service is the total OF the record OF
the two men whom their fellow
employees and the officials gathered
to honor.
Mr.. Ottman, who for n number OF
I years has been senior general road
master OF the Union Pacific. was
born April II, 1856. After IA years
of service with other railroads. he
entered the employ of the Union
Pacific In the maintenance OF way
department.. ut Chapel, Ncb.. In
1887. He has been continuously In
the Union Pacific service for ~
years and continuously In railroad
service for 81 years. -.
MIR. Turner was born July 20,
1856, at London. England. He EN-
tered tho service OF the Union Pa
cihc In September. 1881. as a are,,