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The CEO of the Santa Fe railroad and Me.

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  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
The CEO of the Santa Fe railroad and Me.
Posted by CMStPnP on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 9:21 PM

I stumbled across this obituary on the Internet and it brought back old railroad memories.    Back when I was as stupid kid about Senior in High School, my Father brought it up that one of his close friends at GE Plastics was next door neighbor to Larry Cena who was CEO of the Santa Fe Railroad at the time.    My Father was a fan of the Santa Fe but not really a railfan.    He liked their paint scheme and their customer service reputation for passenger service.

Anyway his friend was over and asked me if there was anything I wanted to ask Larry and he would pass it on.    Stupidly I blew the opportunity on kind of a smart answer and asked "Yes ask him when he will bring the Super Chief back again"     So a small exchange of Q&A took place to Larry via his nieghbor whom visited my Dad about once a quarter or so.

The response back blew my mind because Larry thought the question was a serious one and thought I was referring to the new Intermodal Service they were ramping to start up (I suspect).     His question back to me was how I possibly knew about the new service and he did not have an exact date.    Wow, I thought wait a minute I think he is confused.    To which I responded: "No I mean the Passenger Train".     The answer back to that last question was from my Dad who said.    "Ok thats it you won't be asking any more questions , apparently you upset Larry and his response was not one my Farther thought he should repeat to me (issue with one or more colorful metaphors I presume).     I still chuckle about it today though.   I didn't mean to tick him off and was going for a laugh instead but it backfired.

Anyway, check out his obit, he moved no less than 29 times for the railroad with his family...........man that is some kind of record there.    Not sure I could do that myself.......     Sad to hear he passed on though, I guess I waited too long for a follow up but I would have liked to met him in person.

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/2804124/Lawrence-Larry-Cena

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 11:45 PM

CMStPnP
I stumbled across this obituary on the Internet and it brought back old railroad memories.    Back when I was as stupid kid about Senior in High School, my Father brought it up that one of his close friends at GE Plastics was next door neighbor to Larry Cena who was CEO of the Santa Fe Railroad at the time.    My Father was a fan of the Santa Fe but not really a railfan.    He liked their paint scheme and their customer service reputation for passenger service.

Anyway his friend was over and asked me if there was anything I wanted to ask Larry and he would pass it on.    Stupidly I blew the opportunity on kind of a smart answer and asked "Yes ask him when he will bring the Super Chief back again"     So a small exchange of Q&A took place to Larry via his nieghbor whom visited my Dad about once a quarter or so.

The response back blew my mind because Larry thought the question was a serious one and thought I was referring to the new Intermodal Service they were ramping to start up (I suspect).     His question back to me was how I possibly knew about the new service and he did not have an exact date.    Wow, I thought wait a minute I think he is confused.    To which I responded: "No I mean the Passenger Train".     The answer back to that last question was from my Dad who said.    "Ok thats it you won't be asking any more questions , apparently you upset Larry and his response was not one my Farther thought he should repeat to me (issue with one or more colorful metaphors I presume).     I still chuckle about it today though.   I didn't mean to tick him off and was going for a laugh instead but it backfired.

Anyway, check out his obit, he moved no less than 29 times for the railroad with his family...........man that is some kind of record there.    Not sure I could do that myself.......     Sad to hear he passed on though, I guess I waited too long for a follow up but I would have liked to met him in person.

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/2804124/Lawrence-Larry-Cena

Moving 29 times in 38 years it something else.  That being said in my 51 and half years of service I worked at least 54 different jobs at probably 45 different cities or locations.

 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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