Fall/Winter 2004
Volume 111- No. 3 & 4
Fall/Winter 2004
Volume 111- No. 3 & 4
Honor Rolls
2004 a milestone year for Brother Schuler
Brother Schuler with his wife of 68 years, Velma.
BLET Division 609 (Jefferson City, Mo.) member Roy Schuler celebrated 47 years of BLE service on February 1, 2004. It is a year of milestones for Brother Schuler - he celebrated his 68th wedding anniversary of November 4, 2004, and will celebrate his 90th birthday on December 21.
Brother Schuler began his railroad service with the Rock Island Railroad in Eldon, Mo., as a section laborer in 1935 under the supervision of his father, Andrew Schuler, section foreman. Brother Schuler, along with his older brother, worked under his father's supervision as section laborers until he hired out as a fireman on Aug. 9, 1942. He worked as a fireman until 1951, when he was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer. He made his last run on September 28, 1974.
During his years as a BLE member, he served as Local Chairman of BLE Division 611 in Eldon, Mo., and served as a Delegate to the BLE Grand International Convention in Cleveland, Ohio in 1971.
After suffering a heart attack in 1974, he retired on disability in March of 1975.
The Schulers live at: 111 W. Brockman, Eldon, MO 65026.
Brother W.R. Sklodowski of BLET Division 96 in Chicago celebrated 50 years of BLET membership on January 10, 2004. Brother Sklodowski began his railroad career on July 16, 1950, and married his wife, Florence, 16 days later.
Brother Sklodowski, born on July 29, 1918, worked with several family members during his career with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, including his brother, locomotive engineer Joe Sklodowski; his son, conductor Gary Sklodowski; and engineers Leo Gotsick and Ray Gussick.
One of the highlights of Brother Sklodowski's career was working as a Priority Fireman on a special train for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife, First Lady Mamie, on a whistle stop tour between Chicago and Milwaukee in 1957.
He also fired the last steam engine for railroad buffs from Milwaukee to Proviso and back to Chicago on a round robin. One of his dreams was fulfilled when he served as a locomotive engineer on the 400 and 401 Crack-Train-Pass-Thru Chicago to Milwaukee on Christmas Day in 1979.
He is a U.S. Coast Guard and Air National Guard veteran and served as a member of the Civil Air Patrol from 1959 until 2004. He is also a member of NARVE.
The Sklodowski's live at: 1111 N. Lamb Blvd., Spc. 110, Las Vegas, Nevada 89110-1348.
Attention Retirees!
BLET members planning to retire in coming months should register with the National Division in order to have their Last Run published in the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Journal.
In addition to Last Runs, Honor Rolls are published in recognition of members who have at least 40 consecutive years of BLET membership. Longtime BLET members should inquire for more details.
For more details, members should contact the following:
Back to Fall/Winter 2004 Journal
© 2004 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen