Atlas Press Release: *** Maddox retires again

[Bob Keller]

received from Atlas O:

Richard Maddox Retires from Atlas, Thomas Haedrich Assumes Leadership

Richard Maddox, who has served as Chief Executive Officer for the Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc., and Atlas O, LLC, of Hillside, New Jersey, for the past two years, has retired effective September 30, 2005.

The position of CEO, as well as Chairman of the Board, has been assumed by Thomas W. Haedrich, effective immediately. Mr. Haedrich, who has been involved with Atlas for 23 years, is a member of the family that has owned and operated Atlas since 1924, when it was known as the Atlas Tool Company, a tool and die shop. He has held numerous positions in the company over the years.

“Mr. Maddox, formerly of Lionel and Bachmann, was hired by Atlas to enable myself, and my wife, Diane Schaffan Haedrich, to take planned time off for one year,” Mr. Haedrich said. “We have done that, and now, I have returned to lead the company once again.” Mrs. Haedrich is the daughter of Stephan Schaffan Jr., who founded the modern Atlas Model Railroad Company and began making model railroad products in 1949. The late Mr. Schaffan was posthumously honored by the Model Railroad Industry Association (MRIA) Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland in 1985, and was entered into the National Model Railroad Association Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995. Mr. Haedrich entered the business shortly after Steve’s passing in 1983.

“We at Atlas wish Mr. Maddox the very best in his retirement,” Mr. Haedrich said. “He is a highly respected pillar of the model railroad industry and his service to us will always be appreciated.”

Looking toward the future, Mr. Haedrich continued, “I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities at Atlas in the coming years. This is a very exciting time for us and the model railroad industry in general. We have been very successful with our high-end products, and I am very excited to be returning at the time our new, innovative Trainman line is hitting the hobby world. The response to date has been extremely gratifying. We anticipate great things from Trainman, and in all areas of our product research and development. We pledge to continue to do our utmost to bring the highest quality model railroad products to our existing customers, and reach out to more and more newcomers in an effort to keep our hobby alive, flourishing and ahead of the times.”
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[Odd-d]

Lets hope that Mr. Maddox can be cajoled to step in and try to rescue KLine. Odd-d

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to *** Maddox! He has contributed a great deal to the hobby over the years, and was a great guy to talk with. He probably couldn't have picked a better time to step outside the fray, watch events unfold as they will, and spend some well-earned time relaxing with family and friends, as well as pursuing the other activities that interest him. I wish him the very best!

[cattle buyer]

Hats off to Mr Maddox for a job well done at Bachman, Lionel, and Atlas. Wishing him the best on his retirement.