Biographies 

  

Robert Molina

Bernard A. Sampson

Wayne Schwartz

Michael McGary

George H. Willis

David Smith

Bill Christesen

 

 

 

 

Chef de Chemin de Fer (Robert "Bob" Molina)

Chef de Chemin de Fer Robert “Bob” Molina was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and served honorably in the United States Army in 1963.  Bob was wrecked into Forty et Eight’s Voiture Locale 73, Pima County, AZ, in 1993, and he served in major Voiture positions including that of Chef de Gare (commander).  After serving as Grande Chef de Gare for Voiture du Arizona, Bob advanced to national level service in the Forty et Eight.

Bob Molina served as a member of the Cheminot Nationale, he was Aide de Camp Nationale in 2005, a Voyageur-Activities National Committeeman, Sous Directeur Membership, served as Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer, and was the Americanism Directeur Nationale for three years.

Bob joined the American Legion in 1987 and was a two term commander of Morgan McDermott Post 7 Tucson, Arizona and is currently a member of American Legion Post 109 at Corona, Arizona.

Bob and his wife Becky live in Tucson.  They have 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

 

 

 

  

Correspondant National (Bernie Sampson)

Bernie was born in Woodville, NY on March 29, 1947.  He graduated from Belleville High School in 1966 and joined the Marine Corps.  He was stationed in Viet Nam where he earned the Purple Heart, Vietnam Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Expert Medal.

AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE

Bernie joined Don Rounds Post 586 American Legion in 1966 where he has served as Post Finance Officer for over twenty years.  Other service and recognition includes:

  • County Commander            1992
  • County Finance Officer        1992 - 2000
  • District Vice Commander     2001
  • Department Sgt @ Arms
  • Boys State                         16 years

                    Counselor

                    Board of Directors

  • Boys State Office Manager
  • Department Bowling
  • Numerous Post, County & State committees
  • Legionnaire of the Year

                    Post 586                1992

                    Jefferson County     1998

LA SOCIETE

Bernie is a Charter Member of Jefferson County Voiture 534, joining at it's reorganization in 1990.  As a 40/8 member, Bernie has held all Locale, District and Grande offices as well as several Nationale offices.

LOCALE:

  • Wrecked                            1990`
  • Chef                                   1992
  • Comm. Intendant                 1996 - 2007
  • Numerous Committees

DISTRICT:

  • Cheminot                            1992
  • Held all elected offices

GRANDE:

  • Grande Chef                        2000
  • Voyageur of the Year            2005
  • Held all elected offices
  • Chaired Nominating Committee
  • Numerous committees           2000 - 2007

VOITURE NATIONALE:

  • Correspondant National 2008
  • Chef de Chemin de Fer 2008
  • Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer 2004
  • Sous Director Membership
  • Cheminot Nationale
  • Carvelle Star Committeman

Bernie is retired from the Marine Corps.  He lives in Greenwood, IN with his wife, Terry.  They have three grown children and four grandchildren.  Bernie has been an active member of the Veteran organizations and a lifetime supporter of the sporting groups in his community.  He has been active in Little League, Pop Warner, the Bowling Association, Men's Softball and Tavern Pool League.  He is a Paid up for Life member of the American Legion, the VFW, the DAV, and the Marine Corps League.  In his "spare time", Bernie is an avid golfer.

 

 

 

 

National Avocat (Wayne M. Schwartz)

Wayne was born June 30, 1934, in a farm house outside of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  He attended several grade schools in central Wisconsin (including a 1 room school house).  He attended High School in Manawa, Wisconsin Rapids and graduated from Nekoosa High School in 1952.  After graduation he enlisted in the US Air Force and was a radio operator on B-29s and KC-97s.  He changed career fields and become a boom operator on KC-97s and later, KC-135s.  He retired in 1973 after spending his entire career in the Strategic Air Command.

While in the Air Force Wayne attended several colleges and received an AA degree from Ricker College, Houlton Maine and after retiring received his BS from Fresno State University, Fresno, California.

His first job as a civilian was an assistant manager of a finance company.  He then was employed by the Fresno County District Attorney's Fraud Bureau, supervising the collection department and after 23 years retired again in 1999.

Wayne belongs to several Masonic and Shrine organizations and has been a Shrine Clown for over 40 years.  He belongs to and has been active in other veterans, civic and fraternal organizations.  He plays golf at least once a week (not to good), is a scuba diver, fishes as often as possible, travels a lot and takes lots of pictures.

Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Sherryll, in 1953 before leaving for Japan.  They have 5 children, 9 grand children and 12 great grand kids.  Sherryll died in 2001 and Wayne married Coleen in 2002 and now has 2 step daughters and 4 step grand kids.

He joined the American Legion Post 274, Oscoda, Mi. in 1972 and was invited to join Voiture 669  in 1973.  He was wrecked at a State wreck in the old Jackson prison (nope, not an inmate).  After retiring from the Air Force he transferred to Post 509, Fresno, Ca. and later transferred to Star Post 38 where he held most of the offices and served as Commander several times.  He joined Voiture 31, Fresno, Ca. where he has served as Chef and held most other offices.  At the Grand level he has served as Aumonier, Sous Youth Sports Director and director, Sous Grand Cheminot and Grand Cheminot and Sous Avocat.  He has been on the National Youth Sports Committee and was a National Sous Avocat for several years.

 

 

 

Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer (Michael "Mike" McGary)

 

Mike McGary married to Peggy and they had two children, Michael and Kelli.  They also have two grandchildren, Andrew and Justin.  Mike retired from Zollner Pistons after 34 years of being a toolmaker.  Currently he has been a Purchasing Agent for Waterfurnace Int’l for the last 8 years.

 

 

 

 

  

Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer (George H. Willis)

George H. “Doc” Willis was born in Buncombe County, (Asheville) North Carolina on August 15, 1942.  His family moved to eastern North Carolina (Halifax County) and he attended school in Weldon, NC.  At the age of 16, he joined the United States Navy and celebrated his 17th birthday in The Great Lakes, Illinois “boot camp”.  His military career covered the next 30 years, giving him an ‘education of life’ with 27 ‘duty stations’ which includes 16 of the 30 years with the Fleet Marine Force, where he retired in 1989 as Master Chief, FMFLANT.  His military awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medals (2), Navy “E” Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal  (7), Navy Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2), Humanitarian Service Medal (2), and Navy Sea Service Medal (2).

VETERAN’S ORGANIZATIONS

            AMERICAN LEGION 

  • Department Commander in June, 1999.
  • Department Membership Chairman, 1997-1998.
  • Numerous Department Committees & Commissions
  • Transferred to Roanoke Rapids, NC Post 38, 1991 & became a PUFL member
  • Joined in Emporia, VA in 1990

            FORTY & EIGHT

  • Appointed Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer 2011
  • Nationale Directeur, Carville Star 2008-2011
  • Carville Star Committee Nationale  2003-2008
  • Grand Chef de Gare in  2006-2007
  • Grand Correspondant  2004-2008
  • Numerous Grand Directeur positions
  • Served as Locale Chef de Gare, Locale Correspondant, and numerous committees        

George is also a Life Member of AMVETS, where he was Post Commander 5 years, and Life Member of VFW, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE (where he was the first US NAVY Hospital Corpsman to be elected Detachment Commandant in North Carolina), and Life Member of ANAVICUS (Army, Navy, Air Force, Veterans in Canada & United States).    

CIVILIAN AWARDS & ACTIVITIES

  •   Woodman of the World Volunteer of the Year  2006
  •   President/CEO of first veterans’ museum in Halifax County (Roanoke Valley Veterans’ Center)
  •   VAVS Director 5 years
  •   VISN-6 Board of Advisors, Veterans’ Affairs
  •   DAV Van driver 3 years
  •   Northampton County American Red Cross Manager 2 years
  •   Ruritan of the Year 1996

EDUCATION 

  •   Received Masters in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, 2005
  •   Taught as Associate Professor, Tidewater Community College
  •   Taught as Associate Professor, George Washington University School of Medicine
  •   Attended Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
  •   Attended Chapman University, California
  •   Attended Weldon High School, Weldon, NC until joining US NAVY in 1959

MARITAL STATUS

  •   Married to Joyce Willis who is currently serving as Chairperson, La Femmes Nationale Carville Star program and North Carolina American Legion Auxiliary Department Chaplain

George has 3 sons, George, Jr., Jeff, & Kevin, 2 step-sons, Bill & Jim Turner, 16 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.  George is active and has served as a deacon for 3 years in Community Original Freewill Baptist Church, Weldon, NC.

 

 

  

Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer (David Smith)

     David was born September 18, 1955 in Chattanooga, TN. He grew up in the small farming community of Birchwood TN and graduated from Birchwood High School in June of 1973. After graduation David entered the work force in the private sector and in 1975 was employed with Rockwell International, in the Quality Control Department, at their Chattanooga Foundry facility. When Rockwell announced the closing of their Chattanooga Operations in 1981, David joined the U.S. Army and reported for Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA. Upon completion of Basic and A.I.T. he served in Company E (Honor Guard), 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer Virginia and in Company B, 1st Battalion 48th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division at Gelnhausen Germany. After his enlistment he was Honorably Discharged in 1987. When David returned to Tennessee he located in Cleveland TN and attended Cleveland State Community College 

 

     In March 1991 David was wrecked into La Societe at the “Hillbilly Wrek” in Cleveland TN. He has since served Voiture Locale 735 in most of the Locale Offices and Directeurships, including Chef de Gare (4 terms). He was awarded Voyageur of the Year in 2003. He currently serves as Avocat, and Directeur of Ritual.

 

     David has served the Grande Voiture du Tennessee as Grand Directeur Carville Star (3 terms), Grand Directeur of Membership, Grand Cheminot, Grand Chef de Train, and as a member of the Grand Color Guard. He was elected Grand Chef de Gare in 2002. He is currently serving as Grand Avocat and Grand Directeur of Ritual.

 

     David has served Voiture Nationale as Cheminot Nationale (2 terms), as a member of the Executive Committee, and Nationale Carville Star Committeeman. He has also served as Captain of Color Guard Nationale and Nationale Sous Membership Directeur Region 3. He is a member of The Boxcar Association, The Germany Club, and The Generals Club.

 

     David is married to the former Debra Golden of Albany Georgia and they make their home in Cleveland Tennessee. He has been employed by First Fleet Inc. since 1996. They have 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. In his spare time David enjoys the study of American and Tennessee History, Tennessee Volunteers Football and Basketball, and playing Bluegrass, Folk, and Traditional Mountain Music on his Martin HD-28 Acoustic Guitar. (With Debbie accompanying him on her Upright Bass). 

 

 

 

Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer (Bill Christesen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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