Gary Keck. THE SOUTHWESTERN LIMITED VOL. 31 NO. 1 January / February TCA Nor-Cal Spring Cal-Stewart March 8-10, 2013 Page 5

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1 TCA Nor-Cal Spring Cal-Stewart March 8-10, 2013 Page 5 T.T.O.S. southwestern division By Roy Bell I m guessing it was about 1978 when I first met Gary. It wasn t long after that when he started to bring brand new boxed Lionel MPC to TTOS in Arcadia. There was always a crowd gathered around his table at the south west corner of the Masonic Lodge. This might have given him the encouragement to open the first Train Shack in Burbank, which if I recall was about It was Janitta and Gary Keck only 800 sq. feet but it was successful and allowed him to move to the larger and current store at 1030 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank about That location is still going strong and is now operated by daughter Mindy and son Brian. Mindy s husband Jon Sirugo can usually also be found at the store. My personal experience is that Mindy knows her way around the work bench and does train repairs along with Jon. Brian is president and besides store duties, Brian builds large train layouts, Gary was President of Southwestern Division for two terms from 2000 till He was also president of TTOS National. I m not sure he necessarily wanted those jobs, but was willing to take on the task if no one else came forward. Gary also established the first Southwestern Division Membership Appreciation Picnic in Aug If you spent much time with Gary, you noticed that rather than trains, he preferred to talk about Janitta, his wife of 50 years, and their kids Mindy, Brian, Krissy and Krissy s son Tyler. THE SOUTHWESTERN LIMITED VOL. 31 NO. 1 January / February 2013 LARRY PEARSON, PRESIDENT CALVIN SMITH, EDITOR HERBERT ALFRED MAYER, PHOTOGRAPHER Gary Keck p1 Tribute to Gary Keck p2 Welcome New Members & Renewals! 2013 SWD Schedule C-S Registratrar Wanted p3 Help Promote T.T.O.S. SWD p 4 December 2nd Meet p 5 In Memory-Larry Kirk Illnesses Reported Nor-Cal Spring Cal-Stewart 2013 Info p6 Help at Cal-Stewart 2013 Auction Needs Helpers p7 Letters to the Editor SWD Board of Directors p8 Table Sales for Meets Help Prize Drawings Besides family, his other interests were his school USC, sports, included hunting, fishing mostly with son Brian, and boating, (both ocean and freshwater), especially at Lake Cachuma and Temple Bar. He loved cars and traveling. One trip he told me about with Janitta was to St George, Utah where his BMW X5 broke down. The brakes locked up. The local garages couldn t get the brakes to release so it had to be flat bedded back to Las Vegas where there was a BMW dealership. This would have been a disaster for most of us, but it gave him a reason to spend time in Las Vegas, which became one of his favorite destinations. In the last 12 years, Gary owned more different cars than most of us own in a lifetime. After the Utah trip, Gary pretty much stayed with VW s and Porsches. Gary carried extra weight, but when he was told he needed to lose 100 lbs before he could get a knee replacement, he took up with Weight Watchers and lost the weight. I don t know if he tolerated the surgery well or he just knew that it didn t do any good to complain, but I never heard him complain. This second of his knee surgeries went well and he kept the weight off. Gary will be missed by many, but I think he had a good life and the people around him had a good friend. I m going to miss having lunch with him and hearing him talk about his family, his friends and his hobbies. Above: Janitta and Gary with grandson Tyler at SWD Meet held at Pickwick in Burbank. Right: Tyler and Gary arriving for the SWD Picnic held at LA Live Steamers.

2 WANTED!!! Registration Chairman for Cal-Stewart 2013 Contact Bruce Lazarus (818) or for details 2013 SWD Meet Schedule Sundays: January 6, February 10, *March 3, April 7, May 5, *June 9, July 14, *September 8, October 6, *December 1. *Open House Meets Arcadia Masonic Center 50 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia Sellers Setup & Members 10 a.m. Tables still $5.00 Public 11 a.m. Admission $5.00 Children under 16 free with paid adult Saturday: August 10 Special Membership Picnic Watch for details in the Limited COME VISIT The Train Shack Service Buy Sell Trade One of the Largest Selection of Model trains in Southern California MTH, LIONEL, WEAVER, K-LINE, THIRD RAIL ATLAS, LGB, MARKLIN, KATO, ATHEARN ROUNDHOUSE, WALTHERS, THOMAS THE TANK & BRIO Large Selection of G, O, HO, N, & Z Scales Paints, Tools, Books, Videos, Audios, Scenery Collectibles, Old & New Collections bought Custom Layouts built AUTHORIZED FACTORY SERVICE for LGB, Lionel, MTH, & Marklin Cal-Stewart Meet 2013: November 22, 23, 24, at the Ontario Convention Center Watch for Brochure in July Welcome Aboard to New Members and Renewals!!! Mark Azzez, Steve Cole, Akira Curtiss, Jim Dykier, Deborah Fostrey, Gary Haugen, Karen J. John, Dave Jones, Jeff Nelson, Charles A. Reuter, Mike Taylor, Robert A. Worth, 1030 North Hollywood Way Burbank, California (818) Outside (818), call (800) FAX (818) /12-12/12 2 We re happy to have you join with us in T.T.O.S. Southwestern Division!!

3 HELP PROMOTE T.T.O.S. SWD We re looking for someone, or several persons, who would like to work on Advertising and Outreach for Southwestern Division. This would be for both the Monthly Meets and Cal-Stewart. Earlier last year, your Board of Directors realized that we were spread too thinly to properly cover this area. We asked David Stepp, who works in this field but travels and is too busy to do the actual work, to give us an outline of some areas to address. He did a great job at that, but at the time, we did not have anyone who could give the time needed to properly implement, follow up and expand on those ideas. Now, with the Cal- Stewart 2012 Meet a successful glow in our memories, it s time for us to find someone (or ones) who has time to take on this important job. We don t want to publish a long list of details that take up space here. Seriously, if you, or several of you, are interested in taking on a job that can have a lot of positive impact on T.T.O.S. Southwestern Division and that can be performed mostly on your own schedule(s) (but will rquire an investment of significant time), please contact Hollis Cotton ( or holliscott@aol.com) or Bruce Lazarus ( or lazarusbtwo@roadrunner.com). The more who volunteer, the more the job can be subdivided into coordinated pieces, requiring less time per person. SHOW SPECIALS TRAIN COLLECTIONS PURCHASED When Having the been time a member comes to of think TTOS about since selling 1970, your many train of collection, you know to me whom and the you reputation sell it, how of you the sell store it and i ran how for you 32 years, are paid along are with very the high important profile decisions. auctions I ve In these held uncertain since times Should of crazy you economic decide to swings, sell your threats collection of higher of taxes trains and/or government toys, please intrusion think into of me. our lives, I will buy a strong, your cash entire buyer collection may be for your cash best and road you to will financial receive security. a fair Should price for you each decide and to every sell, I piece. will buy Or, your if you entire prefer, collection I will for sell cash your and collection you will receive for you a in fair one price of for my each special and event every piece. auctions, No lists, at a cost no games, of only just 10% fast, to fair you. deals. ALLEN DRUCKER, T.T.O.S. NO. 277 ALLEN DRUCKER P. O. Box Newport Beach, CA ALLIEDTRN@gmail.com COLLECTOR FAVORITES Plasticville Runway $39 Eye-Catching Signs $9.95 each Casey Jones Railway $29 4 pieces 01/12-12/12 10/12-12/12 Popular Repair DVDs (2) $ TOY TRAIN HERITAGE Order Line: Paid Ad 2012

4 December 2nd Open House Meet 95 Tables-Mike Marple Parts-Full Hall-Active Buyers & Sellers-Auction The December 2, 2012 Open House Meet was Holiday themed as usual with coffee, hot chocolate and cupcakes furnished by the Club. Layouts were Christmas themed. And, of course, Santa arrived for a visit. Photos by David Nissen. Above: Layouts with Christmas decorations Left: Santa, complete with train around the Christmas Tree. Thank you, Fred Ruby. By the Numbers: 85 Table Sales 10 Parts Tables 12 Memberships 30 Public +Layouts & Active Auction = A Great Meet 3 girls eager to talk to Santa More children visited with Santa, who gave out M&Ms treats. 4

5 Notice Just Received of the passing of long-time member Larry Kirk Please keep Phylis DeeDee Kirk and Family in your thoughts and prayers. A tribute to Larry will appear in the next issue of the Limited Illnesses Reported Please keep these SWD Members in your thoughts and prayers Harry Mycroft suffered a severe stroke David Mabee had surgery on Jan. 4, 2013 to remove a benign brain tumor Jun Tentative Meet Dates Jan 11 Jul 11 Feb 8 Aug 8 Mar 7 Sep 12 Apr 11 Oct 10 May 9 Nov 7 Jun 15 Dec 7 Hal Rothenborg, Layout Liaison Board Member, reports the SWD Layout will travel to: The Great Train Expo, Anaheim Convention Center, Jan. 5&6, 2013 World Greatest Hobby on Tour, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Feb. 9&10, 2013 Fullerton Railroad Days, May 4-5,

6 Opportunities to Visit Our Independent Model Railroad Friends in Arizona Gadsden Pacific in Tucson hosts a Toy Train Show 3times a year as well as an interactive Museum of Operating Toy Train Layouts and Displays. Grand Canyon Model Railroaders have brought their layout to Cal-Stewart for years. They host a Model Railroad Swap Meet and Show Feb 23, Visit for Vendor info. TOY TRAIN SHOW Operated as a Benefit Fundraiser for Gadsden Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum 3975 N. Miller Avenue Tucson, AZ Meet to Be Held at a New Location Tucson Expo Center 3750 E. Irvington Road at Palo Verde (From1-10, take East Irvington Road exit.) Great Location, Free Parking, Snack Bar Entrance on South side of Building Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 Open to the Public 2:00 pm 7:00 pm Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 Open to the Public 9:00 am 2:00 pm FREE FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13 ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT Vendor Eight Foot Tables $35.00 (fourth table free with reservation of 3 tables) Interested in Being a Vender? Call MEET CHAIRMAN DAVID HOVERSTOCK (520) OR TrainShow@gpdToyTrainMuseum.com Helpers Are Needed for the Auction at Cal-Stewart and at the Monthly Meets Contact Vince Garguilo (818) /11-06/12 01/12-12/12 6 Meet Dates 2013 Jan. 27 Feb. 24 Mar. 24 Apr. 28 May 26** June 23 July 28 Aug. 25 Sept. 22 Oct. 27 Nov. Dark Dec. 15** Sundays 10:30-4:30 Special hours for **Open House Meets 9:00 to 5:00 For Information visit Or call J Keeley, SP President at (714)

7 Letters to the Editor... T.T.O.S. Southwestern Division Board of Directors Officers President: Larry Pearson Vice President: Hollis Cotton Recording Secretary: Jerry Moser Membership Secretary: Arlene Berns Treasurer: Mike Cunningham About Cal-Stewart Some folks think the Board of Directors (BOD) should be thanked. Others think the BOD ought to be spanked. Cal-Stewart at the Ontario Convention Center is now history and for the next eleven months we ll be treated to a barage of articles and statements about how great it was, all that was right, and how little was wrong. I ve been a Cal-Stewart attendee since it was held at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. To the Airport Marina then Pasadena and now Ontario, Cal-Stewart continues to be the toy train highlight of the year. It takes a lot of work, volunteer help, and hundreds of hours to pull it off. Take a few minutes of your time and search out BOD members and tell them Thank You for their efforts. I cannot remember a time when I didn t send my pre-registration to Bruce Lazarus. It s been decades and I am always amazed how smooth, quick, and efficiently it runs every year. This year Bruce got to sit in the trading hall instead of an outside corridor. Bruce wants to retire and it is time to let him fully enjoy a Cal-Stewart meet. It is time to find a younger collector who will be around for many years to run registration. You ll 7 have Bruce to help you, to train you, to answer all your questions. And even if you won t volunteer to do the work at least find Bruce and give him a special Thank You. I have always tried to do this every Cal-Stewart and you should. too. Thank Yous out of the way, let s talk about the meet. I didn t hear a bad word spoken about anything except possibly the obvious fewer quantity of sellers and tables. It certainly was a smaller Cal-Stewart and that gives us all something to work on for the next one. I liked the auction set-up being in the main hall. This is a great improvement. The snack bar was OK and it remained open all afternoon. Another improvement. I heard many people say great things about the hotel and breakfast and locations. Bravo to the club for doing a great job on hotels. I had a great time. I bought a few items. I should have bought more in the great auctions conducted by Vince (another Thank You to the entire auction crew). I bought some parts and always greatly appreciate when Mike Marple setsup all those parts at Cal-Stewart and at our local SWD meets. Don t stop the Thank Yous without giving a few to Mike. Sunday my wife spent most of the day visting many friends from past years and past Cal- Stewarts. It s over and work has already started for It must have been a terrific Cal-Stewart in Ontario as the following week people were yelling four more years! Mike Stella Editor s Note: Full Report on Cal-Stewart 2012 will appear in March/April Southwestern Limited. Directors Vince Garguilo, Auction Fred Kramer, Raffles Bruce Lazarus, Souvenir Car Jon Pincus, Train Races Hal Rothenborg, Layout Liaison Calvin Smith, Limited Editor Larry Tozzi, Assist Auction

8 At ALL SWD Arcadia Monthly Meets!!!! Tables are ONLY $ 5.00 T.T.O.S.SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION A Non-Profit Corporation Larry Pearson, President Bickley Printing Co. 25 So. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, CA TIME DATED MATERIALS FIRST CLASS Call Hollis Cotton for Table Reservations Wanted American Flyer Trains Dinkys Corgi Tootsietoy Matchbox Would buy one to whole collection Robert Langton Cell: /12-12/12 Come to Enjoy Trains, Friendships, and the 50/50 Drawing at Monthly Meets Donated Items such as Train Cars and Accessories also needed for Consolation Prizes Contact Fred Kramer for details