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Les Foran
Borger, Texas

I graduated from Winona State in March of 1972. My years at Winona State began in the fall of 1968, after my freshman year at St. Mary's College, Winona, and Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College.

When I arrived at Winona State, I did not have a clear idea of what my major would be, but it wasn't long before I developed a fascination with Political Science and Geography. At that time, both fields were lumped together under a "Social Science" degree program, but it wasn't long until this was sorted out. I chose to major in Political Science and minor in Geography, in the B.A. program. My primary instructors in Political Science were Dr. Ahmed El-Afandi, Jim Eddy, and Frank Morello. My primary instructor in Geography was Norman Baron. At the time of my graduation, I had almost earned enough credits in Geography for a double major.

I had a great time at Winona State. Maybe I would have been a better student if I had taken a more serious approach, but I perceived politics as a sort of contest between various interest groups and nations, and the game aspect of it stimulated my interest and imagination. I especially enjoyed taking controversial positions on popular issues. Unfortunately, my zeal for tilting at windmills got in the way of making concrete plans for my future. I must have been insufferable at times.

Winona in the 1960's was blessed with frequent and fast passenger train services from two competing railroads, and I rode the trains a lot. Doing so, it wasn't long before I developed an interest in the railroad industry, beginning as a hobby. This interest led to a job offer from the Milwaukee Road in Winona, and I began working for them as a clerk in the Winona depot in January of 1973. I soon received an assignment to Madison, WI (another wonderful college town). I worked as a clerk for the Milwaukee Road in Madison until the fall of 1974. During this time I married the former Rene' Fletcher of Winona, sister of my friend Greg Fletcher.

The 1970's were a tough time for railroad clerks. I soon found myself laid off, and started a second career managing parts departments in automobile dealerships. This was basically an inventory control job. In 1979, I was offered a position as Assistant Trainmaster in Iowa Falls for the Rock Island Railroad, which I held for a short time until the railroad's demise.

In August 1986, I was offered a position managing the Pierre, SD freight agency for the new Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad. I held this position until May of 1993, when the agencies were consolidated. At the time of consolidation, my agency extended from Wolsey, SD to Rapid City, SD, a distance of 250 miles.

When the agencies were centralized in 1993, I worked for the rest of the year in the centralized operation in Brookings, SD, then left to work at a new railroad operation in Borger, TX, Panhandle Northern. I became a locomotive engineer in January 1995. That is my job at present, although I am looking into work in the management capacity soon in this industry.

My post WSU educational experiences were career-oriented. I completed courses at Winona Area Technical School in typing and business management. I have completed seminars in business management and inventory control from the Ford Marketing Institute. I have earned a certificate in Track Foreman's Training for the Railway Educational Institute. I hold a Federal Class II railroad engineer's license.

Although I did not pursue a career in politics, I have been active in local government. In Winona, I held a seat on the county Housing and Redevelopment Authority in 1980. In 1984 and 1985, I served on the Community Work Experience Oversite Committee. I was active in Minnesota COACT in the early 80's, serving as co-chairman for a year. From 1987-93, I was commissioner on the Hughes County (SD) Civil Defense Committee. I also got to be a judge! Scoring judge at River Raceways, Fountain City, WI.

Rene' and I are still married (24 years). We have managed to raise a family. We have three adult children, Lisa, George, and Kelly, a daughter still in school, Megan, and two granddaughters, Alicia and Ceriah. I am a member of the Pierre SD Knights of Columbus and the West Texas Region of the Sports Car Club of America. I enjoy competing in SCCA Autocross, model building, and model railroading.

My words of advise to undergraduates would be to get focused on a career path as early as possible. You can always make corrections as you go along, but it is important to have a goal to work toward, even if it changes. Also, take the time to have fun in college. Friendships and good times in college can be a source of pleasure for the rest of your life. Have enough respect for your life to choose a major that you really enjoy, then the hard work it will take to succeed will be a labor of love.

Sincerely,

Les Foran

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