CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Iowa Interstate Railroad marked the 100th birthday of its founding chairman, Dr. Paul H. Banner, last week, reminding the railroad industry of his contributions to the industry in leadership roles at Southern Railway and the Rock Island as well as the Midwestern regional railroad. Banner’s birthday was June 30.
The railroad previously honored Banner by naming its newest locomotive, GE ES44AC No. 519, for Banner upon its delivery in December 2019.
“I have been honored to follow in Paul Banner’s footsteps, and am proud that we are in a position to commemorate his contributions to the industry in such a manner,” current Iowa Interstate chairman Henry Posner III said in a press release. “It is easy to forget the audacity of the formation of our company from the abandoned main line of the Rock Island in 1984: the fact that new locomotives are being bought by a railroad that began under such dire circumstances is testament to many things, including the remarkable story of railroad deregulation. But on this day, we focus on the vision and tenacity of its founders, Paul Banner being the first among equals, and celebrate the fact that he is alive and well in retirement.” Banner lives in New England.
“The Iowa Interstate Railroad survives today as a critical part of the nation’s freight rail network because of a few key railroaders who saw something in our footprint that many others did not,” railroad president Joe Parsons said. “Dr. Banner is one of those visionaries.”
Great to hear he is still alive. A wonderful individual. Am 89+ myself. His life gives me added hope.