A railroad man to the end

Posted on February 6, 2019

Consistent. Dependable. Reliable.

These qualities are cornerstones of good business in any industry – but especially important when you’re running a railroad.

Perhaps it was those very qualities that attracted Pleasant Grove native Samuel Russell Tedder to the railroad business. Or, it could have been experiencing firsthand as a teen how the railroad station in a small town like Perry was the heartbeat of the community, with a steady stream of passengers and freight constantly loading and unloading.

Whatever the reason, the railroad business became Tedder’s life work and lifelong passion. He spent more than 20 years crafting a book dedicated to Georgia- Pacific’s railroads. The 500- page tome, released in 2016, was illustrated with more than 600 photographs.

On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the last call whistle blew for Tedder. He was 83.

PHOTO: Samuel Russell Tedder

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.