We report with sadness the passing of yet another of the "great lights" of rail passenger advocacy. George R. Loulan passed away June 12 after a brief illness. George was born March 2, 1913, in the Panama Canal Zone, and was the son of one of the engineers of the newly-completed canal. Arizonans knew him as a dedicated life insurance agent, but his productive and colorful career also included a stint at the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in LaGrange, Illinois, at a time when streamliners powered by that firm's diesels represented the ultimate in modern transportation.
However, George will best be remembered by those of us who know him in ARPA and our predecessor, the Rail Passenger Association of the Southwest, as a man ahead of his time. For more than a decade, George was a one-person Finance, Governmental Affairs and Public Relations Committee rolled into one. He introduced the idea of "regional rail" to Arizona and single-handedly obtained resolutions from scores of city councils, county boards of supervisors, and others in support of the concept. Today's ARPA is—in at least one respect—largely a George Loulan creation. Many members of the current and recent boards of directors, including this writer, were recruited by George. During the nineteen years I knew him, his optimism never flagged, nor did his devotion to his family, his vocation, or the "cause" of passenger rail.
Lloyd Clark, another founder of the Rail Passenger Association, says:
"George Loulan was a worthy conductor of the train of effort that has carried rail passenger service's message throughout our region for almost two decades. His keen observations, wise counsel, and steady work toward getting our community on track will be remembered. George's spirit provides an 'All Aboard!' call to ARPA members and supporters."
George's survivors include his wife Betty, also an active ARPA member; daughters, Lynne Ashmead, Linda Simmons and Nancy Goerlich; sons Frank and Jefferson; sister, Rose Goodman; and five grandchildren. ARPA extends our heart-felt sympathy to them. We miss him, too.
— Rob Bohannan
