Railroad Person of the Year 2017
2017 Railroad Person of the Year
Rod Baker has been selected the 2017 Railroad Person of the Year. This award is sponsored by the Durand Union Station, Inc. in conjunction with Durand Railroad Days. Rod was raised in Bancroft on his family’s dairy farm along with three brothers and one sister. He attended Durand High School where he played sports. After graduation, he attended Michigan State University for a while before his interest was piqued by a chance job with the railroad. Rod’s interest in railroading started when he got a job with Canadian National Railroad between semesters at college. He started out looking for a summer job to earn money for college; however, after working for a while, he realized that he truly enjoyed his work and the part-time job soon turned into fulltime in June 1968. Rod worked as a brakeman and a conductor and remained with the railroad until he retired in 2010 after 42 years of service. Though Rod is retired and has since moved to Linden, he continues to be active in the Durand community. He still volunteers at the depot and is an active member of the Eagles Club and the VFW Auxiliary. He also had the honor of operating the freedom train from Durand to Grand Rapids during the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. Rod and his wife, Lori, are parents to two sons and grandparents to six grandchildren. Since his retirement, they have enjoyed traveling to places such as Germany, Italy and the Dominican Republic. When he is not traveling, Rod enjoys playing golf, pool and spending time on his pontoon. Please congratulate Rod as he receives his award on Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. at the Durand Union Station and wave to him as he passes by in the Railroad Days Parade. All are welcome to congratulate him on receiving this honor!!!
Past Railroad Person of the Year
2016 Neil Randall
2015 Richard Dean Craven
2014 Jerry Mowen
2013 Larry Riddle
2012 James Vandendries
2011 Sue Hatherill
2010 Cliff & Marie Semple
2009 Don Gray
2008 Herbert Scrivener
2007 David Lewis
2006 Philip Perri
2005 Robert "Brake Shoe" Brancheau
2004 Jon Hayes
2003 Pat Post
2002 Robert Buck
2001 William "Mac" McLaughlin
2000 Ray Russell
1999 James Mohn
1998 Forest C. Hines
1997 Wayne N. Roddy
1996 J.J. Casady
1995 Chester "Chet" Liestenfeltz
1994 Margaret Powell
1993 John Walworth
1992 Lloyd Russell
1991 Ernie Spicer
1990 Earl Hart
1989 Sherwood Weichner
1988 Clare Jewell
1987 Lloyd Eicher
1986 Perry Parsall
1985 Clyde Hayes
1984 Arthur VanRiper
1983 Tracy McClure
1982 Anthony "Tony" Kolman
1981 Noble Haver
1980 Ora Goul
1979 Eddie Crane
1978 Frederick Tranzrow
1977 Glenn Willie
