Google found an obituary for the BN Supt. named in the article...
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www.findagrave.com]
"Ralph was born December 16, 1921 in Fairbault, MN and passed away on April 1, 2007 in Spokane... Ralph served during World War II as a co-pilot of a B-17 bomber. He was shot down over Poland in April 1944 and spent 13 months as a prisoner of war. After captivity, he returned to his wife and infant daughter, Sharon. Following the war he was employed by Northern Pacific Railway and Burlington Northern Railroad until he retired January 1981."