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The
Train Collector's
Association |
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| ARIZONA
- NEW MEXICO - WEST TEXAS |
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MEMBER
BIO |
Gordon
Wilson
TCA#
76-10233 |
| Greetings, If
you read my wife's bio (Division Secretary) you will find
out how I came to join TCA. Trains, however, were a part
of my life as far back as I can remember, and those goes
back to the age of 3. My maternal Grandfather and I would
walk from our home to the Railroad station in Morristown,
New Jersey each Sunday. Morristown was on the Lackawanna
Line and trains came by every few minutes. These were the
famous MU's that went toward NY City. Once in a while, a
big steam engine would come by. I was later to find out
that that was the Phoebe Snow on it's way to Buffalo. I
also got my first electric train set at the age of 3, a
Lionel Flying Yankee. They weren't supposed to be sold during
World War II, but my Dad always had connections through
the Fire Department. Eventually I had a big room for my
growing Lionel & Marx toy train empire, and being reasonably
close to Hillside, a trip to the Lionel factory for repairs
would happen quite often. As a teenager, I joined the American
Federation of Musicians and made some decent money playing
my Tuba. This allowed me to buy my own trains. My first
solo purchase was a bright red TEXAS SPECIAL. I still have
it ! I also have that Flying Yankee, although it has been
rewheeled. Unlike other guys my age, I kept playing with
those trains until I entered college. Five years after graduating
from college, up went the Trains again. A smoke bulb burned
out and well .... go read my wife's description of what
happened next. |
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I joined the TCA in 1976 and
began recouping what I had missed while in college, namely
all the Military stuff. In 1978 I met Bruce and Linda Greenberg
and began writing and editing for them. Not too long after
that I became the Post War editor of the Atlantic Division
EXPRESS. This had a huge influence on me when I moved to
AZ in 1988. It was the format of the Atlantic Division EXPRESS
that I imitated when I was asked to assume the editorship
of the Desert Division Newsletter, soon to be known as the
DISPATCH. I served as Division Secretary from 1988 until
1993, when I was elected to the Office of Desert Division
President. At the urging of Al Levin and the Late TCA Secretary
Donna Robinson, I sought and won the office of TCA Vice
President in 1997, the year of the Desert Division's presentation
of the TCA National Convention. In 1998 I again won election,
this time as the National TCA President Elect, and in 2000
I helped direct TCA into the New Millennium as their National
President.
Outside of TCA, I enjoy golfing, symphonic concerts, ballet
programs, and Grand Opera. Of all the classical music forms,
Opera is my absolute favorite. I've been a devotee since
the age of 15. Those of you who know me know that I am a
sports nut, but three teams stand out above all the rest.
First has to be the Philadelphia Phillies of major League
baseball; then the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey
League, and finally, the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.
Basketball at the college level keeps my attention, but
the pros I find boring except for the last two minutes of
a game. Christie and I travel extensively and I have been
on all seven continents. We have lost count of the countries
we've been to, and have visited every state in the USA at
least twice. Driving to TCA conventions is an absolute must,
as there are so many neat things to see along the way. That
about covers most of my interests. Oh, yes, I do like to
eat - ask me for a good place to eat if you are planning
a big trip. We've probably been there. Warmest regards,
Gordon
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