Two notable model railroad industry servants received the Hobby Manufacturer Association’s first Bobbye Hall Distinguished Service Award, named after the noted hobby pioneer from Dallas. Fred Hill and Fred Hamilton, who have served the HMA and its predecessor, the Model Railroad Industry Association, for much of the past 45 years, were honored at HMA’s membership meeting during the National Train Show, July 19 in Anaheim. The presentations followed the induction of Bud Reece and Dick Maddox into the HMA Hall of Fame.

Hall was president of Hallmark Models and a 1996 inductee in the MRIA Hall of Fame; she died in 2007. The award recognizes MRIA members who have made significant contributions to the industry but are not eligible for Hall of Fame induction.

“Both Fred Hill and Fred Hamilton are truly leaders following in the footsteps of Bobbye Hall, and we congratulate them for achieving this honor,” said Allen Pollock, co-chair of the awards committee.

Hamilton, an MRIA past president, began his career in model railroading with Kalmbach Publishing, where he worked 25 years for Model Railroader Magazine. He began his industry service in the 1970s with the Hobby Industry Association and served on MRIA’s board of trustees for four years until 2000, when he was elected MRIA president. In 2002 he became executive director, a position he held until 2005 when MRIA merged with two other organizations and became the HMA.

The award marks the third time Hamilton, 66, has been nationally recognized. He was named National Model Railroad Association Man of the Year in the early 1990s and received the organization’s Pioneer Award in 2005.

“This is probably the best recognition in the industry I’ve received,” he said. “It was a total surprise. I really wasn’t expecting it.”

Hamilton, who still dabbles in the industry by working with a couple of manufacturers part time, said receiving the award was particularly special because of Hall’s continued support of model railroading and her very personable approach.

“She was multifaceted and very instrumental with the old Hobby Industry Association and making model railroading a significant part of the industry,” he said. “I remember the MRIA had a convention in Dallas around 1990 and afterward she had all of the exhibitors over to her house for coffee. She was always the gracious host.”

Hill, who owns two hobby shops and a model manufacturing business in the Los Angeles area, has been involved in hobby industry associations since the ’70s after purchasing The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena, CA.

He joined the MRIA in 1976 and served on the board and as the organization’s show chairman for iHobby Expo for several years. He also served 18 years on the National Retail Hobby Stores Association’s board of directors and has served the past three years on the HMA’s board.

Hill received a distinguished service award from the HMA in 2006. “I really feel honored to have won the Bobbye Hall award,” he said. “She was a great inspiration. She had heart, and you’ve got to have heart. That’s what she was all about.” Hill, 66, said Hall had a lasting effect on him when they met at an MRIA meeting in San Mateo, CA, in 1976.

“She said that if I was going to make it in this business that I would have to get involved in the Model Railroad Industry Association,” he said. “I never have forgotten that.”

Every year for 15 years Hill and his business partner sent Hall a dozen yellow roses with a red carnation in the middle to express their gratitude.

Hill stays active in the industry by continuing to operate The Original Whistle Stop, Allied Trains and The Coach Yard, which manufactures HO brass locomotives, passenger cars and trains. He also assists with the operation of a decal business that his wife, Judy, owns. After more than 40 years in the business, he has no plans to retire.

“That’s something else that Bobbye taught me,” he said. “You don’t have to retire to enjoy life.”

Hall received the National Model Railroad Association’s Pioneer Award in 1996 and released her autobiography, Tracks from Texas to Tokyo (Ballpark Impressions, LLC), in 2006. — TIM BLACKWELL/CRU (September 1, 2008)

DART RIDERSHIP SETS RECORD FOR THIRD STRAIGHT MONTH

DALLAS — Three months, three ridership records for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

July ridership on bus, light rail, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes reached another new high of 10.8 million trips eclipsing the previous record set in June of 10.4 million trips.

For the first time, DART Rail exceeded 70,000 average weekday trips for the month setting another ridership record. The TRE also set a record in average weekday ridership with more than 11,200 trips. HOV usage was up 45.1% over July 2007.