Newspaper article, Pioneer worked Union Pacific for life, Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 23, 1973

2—Las Vegas Review-Journal—Sunday, September 23, 1973 End of line Pioneer worked Union Pacific for life By Robin Shoen RJ Staff Writer The railroad yards of Las Vegas will lose part of their history on Friday, when Orien "Buster" Stevens, 65, retires from the Union Pacific Railroad after 48 years of service. Self-proclaimed "last of the old-timers," Stevens, of 2732 N. Shield St. in North Las Vegas, started working for the railroad in 1925 at the age of 17, and has continued working for Union Pacific since then. When he started n 1925, the railroad yards employed about 2,000 persons. Now, only 30 persons work in the Las Vegas yards. Many of the workers were laid off, or jobs were cut out, in 1945, when the railroad replaced steam engines with diesel locomotives which require less personnel to maintain. Stevens was hired as an engine wiper in 1925, and then advanced to a stationary fireman in the power house, and was a water treater in the water treating plant. In 1928, he bid on the hosteler attendant job, and "I've had it ORIEN STEVENS ...retires after 48 years ever since," Stevens said happily. Born Feb. 10, 1908, Stevens came to Las Vegas in 1923 from Idaho Falls, Idaho after a short stay in northern Nevada. With the arrival of his family, the total population "was 75 Negroes" in the Las Vegas Valley. Son of Ernest and Lucretia Stevens, Stevens was one of the first black pioneers in Las Vegas. Las Vegas was a big railroad town in those days, with a large terminal and only two or three gambling clubs. "The railroad didn't get along with the gamblers. If you went in to cash your check at one of the clubs and the railroad caught you, they'd fire you," Stevens said. He recalled that "4 by 12s" were used for gutters in the Las Vegas streets and that the present site of the Horseshoe Casino was just a hole in the ground when he first came to town. Stevens admitted that in the 1930s, the position of attendant hosteler was as high as a black man could advance. "We couldn't advance then, until this integration went through," he said. "But the railroad has been good to me," Stevens continued. "I worked all through the Depression, and had enough money to take care of my family. What more could you want?" He stopped working for the railroad during World War II, from 1942 to 1945, but was quickly rehired by the railroad after his discharge from the U.S. Army. Called "one of the best workers I ever had work for me," by Jim Quaney, general foreman, Stevens said his superintendents "don't boss me ... we work together." Mike Smith, round house foreman, said the whole shop revolves around Buster and his hosteler — a person who directs switching in round house. WORKING ON THE RAILROAD — Shown in the Union Pacific Railroad round house, Orien "Buster" Stevens will retire Friday after 48 years of work in the Las Vegas railroad yards. A longtime resident of Las Vegas, Stovens plans to travel after his retirement. R-J photo Friday, Stevens will take off his yellow hardhat with the "no. 1" sticker, indicating he has the most seniority in the yard, and pass it to an engineer Stevens trained over 30 years ago. "I've broken-in most of the engineers in the yard," said Stevens. Railroad workers have planned a special retirement party for Stevens from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Nashville Nevada Club. "I think I'll leave my car at home for that party," laughed Stevens. "I don't dislike anybody," he said, and "I'm always good-natured." After retirement, Stevens plans to travel and rest. "I've got a home here and I'll keep it," he said. His daughter, Wanda Rob-ison, and 13 year old grandson live in Las Vegas. Making plans for trips to Texas and Arkansas, Stevens said, "I might rest up for a year and then go get myself another job."