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The History of Western Division

The Train Collectors Association was founded in Yardley, Pennsylvania in July of 1954. The first meeting was held in the barn of noted rail historian Ed Alexander. In the same year, collectors on the west coast met and organized the first division of TCA - the Western Division.  The organizing meeting was held Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1954 at the home of Dick Wheeler, 801 Oakdale Road, in Monrovia, California.

The result of these two meetings was the formation of the Train Collectors Association (TCA) with Burton Logan being the first president of National, and Evan Middleton serving as President of Western Division. Western Division was the first TCA division formed.

From Left: George Smith, Dick Thompson, Edwin Demack, Ralph Pauly, Frank Cox, Evan Middleton
TCA Western Division Founders in 1954:
(from left) George Smith CM59, Dick Thompson CM63, Edwin Demack CM 15, Ralph Pauly CM 45, Frank Cox CM 13, Evan Middleton CM 2. Photo taken by Herb Morley CM 43.

Herb Morley in 1955
Herb Morley, CM 43, in 1955 riding the last of the #5 carline in southwest LA. Herb served as President of TCA National 1961-1962 and as President of Western Division in 1965.

The following were present at the meeting in Monrovia that formed Western Division:

Frank W. Cox William R. Jeffery Herbert G. Morley
G. Edwin Demack Evan M. Middleton George L. Smith
Wesley F. Frye Richard 0. Wheeler Robert E. Stern

These people, along with:

Richard W. Thompson - L.A., CA Ralph Pauly - L.A., CA
Russ Hafdahl - Seattle, WA George Hopkins - Eugene, OR
Stanley O'Brien - Seattle, WA Wilton Hill - San Francisco, CA
Stephen Stanley - Spokane, WA Joseph Kiester - San Diego, CA
A. E. Seatwell - Portland, OR

became the Charter Members.

And thus Western Division was born. Meetings were held in member's homes from the time of formation in 1954 until 1965, when the division grew too large for regular home meetings. TCA was incorporated in 1957. The TCA Western Division encompasses all of California south of the San Luis Obispo-Visalia line (not including those towns) and the southern half of Nevada, including the counties of Mineral, Ezmeralda, Nye, White Pine, Lincoln and Clark. In 2008, Western Division boundaries were expanded to include the entire state of Hawaii as well.

1955 TCA National Board of Directors
Frank W. Cox (seated on left holding tender) - TCA Founding Charter Member #13, 3rd TCA National President and 1956 Western Division President attends the 1st ever TCA National Board of Director's meeting circa 1955 at the famous barn of Ed Alexander.

Frank Cox conducts 1st ever auction at a National Convention
The 1st ever train auction held at a National Convention, June 1955, with Western Division's Frank Cox CM #13 (holding up tinplate passenger cars) serving as auctioneer.

1955 TCA National Convention Attendees
1955 TCA National Convention Attendees - Western Division CM #2 Evan Middleton is pictured kneeling in the first row on the left. Evan served as the 1st President of Western Division and at the same time served as the 1st Vice-President of TCA National. Western Division CM #13 Frank Cox is pictured 6th from left kneeling.


Western Division Members who have served as President of the TCA National Board of Directors:

Frank Cox 1957-1958 Herb Morley 1961-1962
Ward Kimball 1974-1975 John G. Parker 1989
Robert M. Caplan 1994-1995 Wayne S. Sheriff 2015-2016

Burt Logan and Frank Cox at 1955 Convention
Burt Logan, 1st TCA President, and Frank Cox, 3rd TCA President, viewing part of the train display at the 1955 National Convention.

1962 National Convention attendees
1962 National Convention attendees - 1962 Western Division President and Founding Charter Member Russ Hafdahl (back row center), Western Division Founding Charter Member George Hopkins (front row far left) and 1965 Western Division President and Founding Charter Member Herb Morley (front row second from right).


Western Division has served as the host division for several TCA National Conventions. The first was the 5th Annual Convention in 1959 at the Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The division again hosted for the 12th Annual Convention in 1966 at the Hotel Miramar in Santa Monica, CA. The 17th Annual Convention was again hosted by Western Division in 1971 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA. In 1979 the division hosted the 25th Convention Jubilee at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA. The 49th Annual Convention was hosted by Western Division in 2003 at the Ontario Convention Center and Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. Most recently in 2021, Western Division hosted the TCA 67th Annual Convention in Burbank, CA.

Marty Folb - 1966 TCA 12th National Convention Chairman
Marty Folb & John G. Parker - 1971 TCA 17th National Convention Chairmen
John G. Parker - 1979 TCA 25th National Convention Chairman
John G. Parker & Wayne Sheriff - 2003 TCA 49th National Convention Chairmen
Harold Shapiro & Wayne Sheriff - 2021 TCA 67th National Convention Chairmen

1966 TCA National Convention celebration in Santa Monica, CA
The celebration begins at the 12th TCA National Convention hosted by Western Division in Santa Monica, CA in 1966. Left to right: Western Division's Herb Morley and Frank Cox (first and second from left), TCA National President Jim Storer, Western Division's John Parker, 'Mr. TCA' Lou Redmond (far right).


Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flats Railroad was a stop for the 1966 Convention
1966 National Convention attendees were treated to a visit of the famous Ward Kimball Grizzly Flats backyard railroad. That's Ward standing on the pilot of the Chloe.


Succession of Western Division Officers

1954:
Evan Middleton - President
George L. Smith - Vice-President
G. E. Demack - Secretary/Treasurer
1955:
Same as 1954, as there was no mention of any election in the Minutes.
1956:
Frank Cox - President
Ralph Pauly - Vice-President
Ed Demack - Secretary/Treasurer
1957:
William R. Jeffery - President
Dave Houlihan - Vice-President
(Robert Buckley elected 2/4/57 to fill vacancy of V-P)
Ed Demack - Secretary/Treasurer
(Herb Morley elected 6/17/57 to fill vacancy of Secy.-Treas.)

1958:
Mel Roberts - President
George Smith - Vice-President
Herb Morley - Secretary/Treasurer
Wes Frye - Public Relations (Publicity)
1959:
Ralph Pauly - President
Ed Miller - Vice-President
Herb Morley - Secretary/Treasurer
1960:
George Smith - President
Harrison Bemis - Vice-President
Herb Morley - Secretary/Treasurer
Wesley Frye - Public Relations
1961:
Harrison Bemis - President
James Kurten - Vice-President
Dick Wheeler - Secretary/Treasurer
Wes Frye - Editor

Western Division Train Meet in February 1962 at Dick Thompson’s house in Long Beach, California.
Ed Miller, Wes Frye, George Sirus, Mel Roberts, and Bill Harris attend a Western Division Train Meet in February 1962 at Dick Thompson’s house in Long Beach, California.
1962:
Russ Hafdahl - President
Gordon Nesbitt - Vice-President
Dick Wheeler - Secretary/Treasurer
Wes Frye & Harrison Bemis - Editors
1963:
Wesley Frye - President
Al Shadler - Vice-President
Dick Wheeler - Secretary/Treasurer
Harrison Bemis & Gordon Nesbitt - Editors
1964:
Paul Applegate - President
Jerry Brown - Vice-President
Harrison Bemis - Secretary
Ralph Pauly - Treasurer
George Sirus - Director
Mel Roberts - Director
Gus Paterson - Director
Gordon Nesbitt - Editor
1965:
Herb Morley - President
Gene Noller - Vice-President
Harrison Bemis - Secretary
Ralph Pauly - Treasurer
Howard Davis - Director
George Sirus - Director
Gus Paterson - Director

1966:
John Parker - President
John Herman - Vice-President
Jerry Rokos - Secretary
Ralph Pauly - Treasurer
Hilton White - Director
Mark Dees - Director
Howard Davis - Director

1967:
Dick Wheeler - President
Chet Willets - Vice-President
Jerry Rokos - Secretary
Stan Anderson - Treasurer
Milton White - Director
Edwin Warner - Director
John Parker - Director
1968:
Chet Willets - President
Bob Villars - Vice-President
William Groves - Secretary
Stan Anderson - Treasurer
Ray Nelson - Director
Edwin Warner - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Fred Claassen - Editor


1969:
Bob Villars - President
Western Division Train Meet in February 1962 at Dick Thompson’s house in Long Beach, California.
Jim Kurten, Ralph Pauly, Bill Harris, and Evan Middleton also attending the Western Division Train Meet in February 1962 at Dick Thompson’s house in Long Beach, California.

1971 Anaheim Convention goers doing a trunk deal.
Circa 1971 - a "trunk deal" taking place at the 17th National Convention in Disneyland. Western Division Members: (from the left) John Parker, unknown, Alan Drucker, Don Ladenberger, Jerry Rokos and George Sirus.

1970:
Ward Kimball - President


1971:
Nick Grippe - President
Dr. Joe DiMassa - Vice-President
Clyde Easterly - Secretary
Lee Harris - Treasurer
Dirk Brown - Sergeant-at-Arms
Charles Brasher - Director
Jerry Brown - Director
Ralph Pauly - Director
George Smith - Director
Wesley Frye - Editor
1972:
Dr. Joe DiMassa - President
John Bentley - Vice-President
Don Ladenberger - Secretary
Lee Harris - Treasurer
Dirk Brown - Sergeant-at-Arms
Myron Erickson - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Charles Brasher - Director
Nick Grippe - Director
Wesley Frye - Editor


1973:
Ron Smith - President

1971 convention goers pose in front of The Grizzly Flats depot
June 1971 - once again the TCA convention goers get a rare opportunity to spend time at Ward Kimball's backyard railroad - the Grizzly Flats.

A baggage cart full of cast iron trains at Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flats.
'Mr. TCA' Lou Redmond (left) looks on as Ward Kimball (2nd from right) shows off some of his early cast iron trains to some interested parties, including Western Division's Don Ladenberger, at the 1971 TCA National Convention tour stop to the Grizzly Flats.


1974:
Nathan K. Forman - President
Donald J. Ladenberger - Vice-president
H. Lee Greaves - Secretary
Leon "Lee" Harris - Treasurer
Ronald J. Smith - Director
Charles Brasher - Director
Jerry A. Rokos - Director
John G. Parker - Director


1975:
Don Ladenberger - President


1976:
Bob Topley - President

1977:
John King - President
Bob Spellmire - Membership Secretary
Kay Spellmire - Recording Secretary

1978:
Doug Lepley - President
Bob Spellmire - Membership Secretary
Kay Spellmire - Recording Secretary

1979:
Allen Drucker - President
Chuck Stone - Vice President
Donald J. Ladenberger - Treasurer
Bob Spellmire - Membership Secretary
Kay Spellmire - Recording Secretary

1983 TCA Western Division members at Ward Kimball's.
TCA Western Division members in 1983 at Ward Kimball's house: (back row from left) Bill Jeffrey, Jim Kurten, Gordon Nesbitt, Wes Frye, Chris Kelly, Bob Spellmire, Dick Wheeler, (front row from left) Lyle Cain, Ward Kimball, George Sirus, Ralph Pauly and Leon Harris.


1980's Bob Spellmire, Jim Kurten, Ward Kimball, George Sirus, Wes Frye
1980's Bob Spellmire, Jim Kurten, Ward Kimball, George Sirus,
and Wes Frye displaying their prized possessions.

1980:
Chuck Stone - President
Bob Spellmire - Membership Secretary
Kay Spellmire - Recording Secretary

1981-83:
 
Bob Spellmire - President


1984-85:
John Thousand - President

1986-87:
Bob Caplan - President
Georgia DeBeers - Secretary
1988:
Bob Caplan - President
David Aikens - Vice President
Dale Lange - Treasurer
Peter DeBeers - Membership Secretary
Alicia Caplan - Rercording Secretary
John Thousand - Past President
Chuck Dargan - Director
Edward Harrigan - Director
Ralph Johnson - Director
Russell Lange - Director
Joseph Lovi - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
Thomas Watson - Director

1989:
Bob Caplan - President
David Aikens - Vice President
Russell Lange - Treasurer
Dale Lange - Membership Secretary
Larry Kirk - Rercording Secretary
John Thousand - Past President
Art Breker - Director
Edward Harrigan - Director
Alicia Caplan - Director
Keith Cryder - Director
Peter DeBeers - Director
Mike Stella - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
1990:
Bob Caplan - President
David Aikens - Vice President
Dale Lange - Treasurer
Peter DeBeers - Membership Secretary
Alicia Caplan - Rercording Secretary
John Thousand - Past President
Chuck Dargan - Director
Edward Harrigan - Director
Ralph Johnson - Director
Russell Lange - Director
Joseph Lovi - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
Thomas Watson - Director

Bob Caplan & Lyle Cain enjoying the Toonerville Trolley
Bob Caplan & Lyle Cain enjoying the Toonerville Trolley.


1991:
Bob Spellmire - President
Thomas Watson - Vice President
Ernest Wrenn - Recording Secretary
Russell Lange - Membership Secretary
Dale Lange - Treasurer
Robert Caplan - Past President
David Aikens - Director
Chuck Dargon - Director
Edward Harrigan - Director
Myron Moore - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
1992:
Bob Spellmire - President
Chuck Dargon - Vice President
Thomas Watson - Recording Secretary
Russell Lange - Membership Secretary
Dale Lange - Treasurer
Robert Caplan - Past President
David Aikens - Director
Artie Lazarides - Director
Emmert Stouffer - Director
Joseph Lovi - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
1993:
Bob Spellmire - President
Chuck Dargon - Vice President
Thomas Watson - Recording Secretary
Russell Lange - Membership Secretary
Dale Lange - Treasurer
Robert Caplan - Past President
David Aikens - Director
Artie Lazarides - Director
Emmert Stouffer - Director
Joseph Lovi - Director
Jerry Rokos - Director
Chuck Stone - Director
1994-96:
Thomas Watson - President
Doug Mosher - Vice President
Karl Anderson - Treasurer
Russell Lange - Membership Secretary
Robet Spellmire - Past President
Roy Adelotte - Director
Terry Fortuna - Director
Artie Lazarides - Director
Mario Liberatore - Director
Ed Monak - Director
Kay Spellmire - Director
Chuck Stone - Director

1997:
John Parker - President
Harold Shapiro - Vice-President
Russell S. Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Cheryl Shapiro - Recording Secretary
Roy Bell - Director
Ken Carter - Director
Artie Lazarides - Director
Mike Loewke - Director
Emmert Stouffer - Director
Bob Spellmire - Director
1998:
John Parker - President
Harold Shapiro - Vice-President
Russell S. Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Cheryl Shapiro - Recording Secretary
Roy Bell - Director
Terry Fortuna - Director
Artie Lazarides - Director
Mike Loewke - Director
Emmert Stouffer - Director
Bob Spellmire - Director
1999:
Harold Shapiro - President
Roy Bell - Vice-President
Russell S. Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Peter Searls - Recording Secretary
Kurt Bondi - Director
Robert Caplan - Director
Les Cochran - Director
Vince Gargulio - Director
Jerry Blaine - Director
Gary Keck - Director
2000:
Harold Shapiro - President
Russell S. Lange - Vice-President
R. Dale Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Peter Searls - Recording Secretary
Kurt Bondi - Director
Robert Caplan - Director
Les Cochran - Director
John Parker - Director
Jerry Blaine - Director
Roy Bell - Director
Dennis Taube - Director

2001 Western Division Board of Directors
2001 Western Division BOD: (from the left) John Parker, Dennis Taube, Russ Lange, Peter Searls, Bob Caplan, Kurt Bondi and Harold Shapiro.

2001:
Russell S. Lange - President
Kurt Bondi - Vice-President
R. Dale Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Peter Searls - Recording Secretary
Les Cochran - Director
Don Gatz - Director
Don McCutcheon - Director
John Parker - Director
Bill Shepard - Director
Dennis Taube - Director
2002:
Russell S. Lange - President
Wayne Sheriff - Vice-President
R. Dale Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Waller - Recording Secretary
Don McCutcheon - Director
Dennis Taube - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Les Cochran - Director
Peter Searls - Director
Kurt Bondi - Director

2003:
Russell S. Lange - President
Wayne Sheriff - Vice-President
R. Dale Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Waller - Recording Secretary
Don McCutcheon - Director
Dennis Taube - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Les Cochran - Director
Peter Searls - Director
Kurt Bondi - Director
2004:
 Robert Caplan- President
Wayne Sheriff - Vice-President
R. Dale Lange - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Waller - Recording Secretary
Harold Shapiro - Director
Dennis Taube - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Les Cochran - Director
Robert Lemberger - Director
John Abbe - Director
John G. Parker - Director

2004 Western Division Board of Directors
2004 Western Division BOD Members: (from the left) Dale Lange, Les Cochran, John Parker, Bob Caplan, Bob Lemberger, Harold Shapiro and Dennis Taube.


2006 Western Division Board of Directors
2006 Western Division BOD Members: (seated from left) Walter Olsen, Dave Otth, Jon Lang, Harold Shapiro, (standing from left) Howard Bishop, Jim Kenney, Bob Lemberger, Ray Sugg, Mike Donovan, John Parker, Bill Clausen and Wayne Sheriff.

2005:
Wayne Sheriff - President
Jon M. Lang - Vice-President
Harold Shapiro - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Lemberger - Recording Secretary
Bill Clausen - Director
Mike Donovan - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Jerry Johnson - Director
Jim Kenney - Director
Steve Waller - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Robert Caplan - Director
2006:
Wayne Sheriff - President
Jon M. Lang - Vice-President
Jim Kenney - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Lemberger - Recording Secretary
Bill Clausen - Director
Mike Donovan - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Howard Bishop - Director
David Otth - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Robert Caplan - Director

2007:
Wayne Sheriff - President
Jon M. Lang - Vice-President
Jim Kenney - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Lemberger - Recording Secretary
Bill Clausen - Director
Mike Donovan - Director
Ray Sugg - Director
Howard Bishop - Director
David Otth - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Robert Caplan - Director
2008, 2009 & 2010:
Wayne Sheriff - President
Manny Gonzalez - Vice-President
Jim Kenney - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Eastman - Recording Secretary
Mike Donovan - Director
Jon M. Lang - Director
Robert Lemberger - Director
Herbert A. Mayer - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
Stephen J. Waller - Director
Robert Caplan - Director

2008-10 Western Division Board of Directors
2008-10 Western Division BOD: (from left) Bob lemberger, Herb Mayer, Jon Lang, Steve Waller, Jim Kenney, Steve Eastman, Mike Donovan, Bob Caplan, Wayne Sheriff, Manny Gonzalez, John Parker, and Harold Shapiro.


2011-13 Western Division Board of Directors
2011-13 Western Division BOD: (seated from left) John Parker, Harold Shapiro, Manny Gonzalez, Bob Nord, Jim Kenney, (standing from left) Mark Spears, Steve Waller, Jon Lang, Wayne Sheriff, Bob Caplan, Steve Eastman, Mike Donovan and Herb Mayer.

2011, 2012, & 2013:
Manny Gonzalez - President
Bob Nord - Vice-President
Jim Kenney - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Caplan - Recording Secretary
Mike Donovan - Director
Mark Spears - Director
Jon M. Lang - Director
Steve Eastman - Director
Herbert A. Mayer - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
Stephen J. Waller - Director
Wayne Sheriff - Director
2014, 2015, & 2016:
Manny Gonzalez - President
Bob Nord - Vice-President
Jon M. Lang - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Kenneth Chan - Recording Secretary
Mike Donovan - Director
Robert Caplan - Director
Steve Eastman - Director
Jim Kenney - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
Stephen J. Waller - Director
Wayne Sheriff - Director

2016 - 2018:
Steve Eastman - President
Bob Nord - Vice-President
Jon M. Lang - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Stephen J. Waller - Recording Secretary
Robert Caplan - Director
Kenneth Chan - Director
Jim Kenney - Director
John G. Parker - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
Manny Gonzalez - Director
Wayne Sheriff - Director
2018 - 2020:
Steve Waller - President
Bob Caplan - Vice-President
Wayne Sheriff - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Bob Nord - Recording Secretary
Harvey Tafel - Director
Kenneth Chan - Director
Jim Kenney - Director
Rudy Felix - Director
Jon Lang - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director

2017-18 Western Division Board of Directors
2017-18 Western Division BOD: (from left) Steve Waller, Bob Nord, Steve Eastman, Jim Kenney, Jon Lang, Harold Shapiro and Ken Chan.

2018-19 Western Division Board of Directors
2018-20 Western Division BOD: (from left standing) Rudy Felix, Jim Kenney, Wayne Sheriff, Jon Lang, Harold Shapiro, Harvey Tafel, Steve Eastman. (seated) Bob Caplan, Steve Waller, Bob Nord.

2020 - 2022:
Steve Waller - President
Bob Caplan - Vice-President
Wayne Sheriff - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Collette Shepard - Recording Secretary
Rudy Felix - Director
Kenneth Chan - Director
Jon M. Lang - Director
Harvey Tafel - Director
Steve Eastman - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director
Bill Shepard - Director
2022 - 2024:
Bob Caplan - President
Jon Lang - Vice-President
Wayne Sheriff - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Waller - Recording Secretary/Editor
Steve Eastman - Director
Rudy Felix - Director
Glenn Olsen - Publicity
Larry Pearson - Director
Greg Pulis - Director
Harold Shapiro - Director

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To request more information about TCA contact any Western Division board member or send e-mail to: info@tcawestern.org