John Edward Leming Memorial

At the Trinity River Interchange this coming June, we will honor Dallasite John “Jack” Leming who was the last member of that most innovating group of model railroaders in Texas during the 1960’s and 1970’s that set the patterns for much that we do today.  Jack passed away on April 25, 2008 after a brief illness.
 
Jack developed very realistic model railroad scenery and building techniques and shared this information with countless LSR and NMRA members.  Jack, his son Tom and friends like Bill McClenahan, Malcolm Vordenbaum, Cliff Robinson, and Bill Sims built the first Cape Able and Port Enchos Railroad in his garage.  This HO layout had some very unusual motive power.  You’ll have to wait until the convention banquet to find out about this.  All I will say now is that it was really inexpensive.  Jack gave away many beautiful totally scratch-built buildings and cars… quite sufficient to qualify for NMRA achievement certificates.  However, Jack was more interested in helping others than in receiving awards.  

Jack was the chairman of the 25th LSR convention in Dallas in 1976.  As editor of The Marker Lamp for many years, he was always bringing unusual stories about railroading to us.  Jack was the director of the Advertising Art Department of The Dallas Morning News, and his wife Helen was a noted fashion illustrator for the newspaper.  In 1976 Jack was the proud recipient of the prestigious Pop Loeffler Award, presented by the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club.

More about “The Kid” next time . . . .

Bill McPherson