Jerry and Linda Butler

February 26, 1959, Lexington Progress

Tribute For 50 Years of Service On Railroad Given Jim Lacey [Photo of Mr. Lacy]

A man who has seen railroading develop from hand-fired engines to powerful diesels and signal flags replaced by automatic signal systems was recently honored for his half century of service by the L & N. He is James Harrison Lacy, better known as Jim. He was presented a gold watch from Supt. Dan Wear of Nashville in recognition of 50 years employment. Inscribed on the back was “J. H. Lacy, 50 years service, L & N RR Co., 1958.”

He began work with the N C & St. L Railway December 27, 1908, at Lexington where he trucked freight and called crews. Like so many others of that era, Mr. Lacy’s baseball ability played a big part in getting a job on the railroad. The late C. G. Gathings was agent here and was an avid baseball supporter. Games were played in the large lot from the present depot.

In March 1909, Mr. Lacy transferred to the “road” and worked on the old Perryville Branch and other parts of the P & M Division.

Although his mileage on the railroad can’t be computed, Mr. Lacy has never been involved in a serious wreck. And the greatest event of his railroading career is the simple fact that he “has never been hurt.”

Ironically only last month, he and several others Lexington railroaders were injured in a mishap in Memphisߞin a taxi. Mr. Lacy is still off from work.

In April 1912, Mr. Lacy married the former Miss Hortense Ross and they have three children, Bill Lacy of Kingsport, Mrs. Walt Messing of San Francisco and Miss Marie Lacy of Lexington and eight grandchildren.

Born in a log cabin between Beacon and Decaturville, Mr. Lacy was one of 10 children. Mr. Lacy was one of 10 children. And how did he get in this work?

"I used to tell my mother, ‘I want to be a railroader."

• source: Brenda Kirk Fiddler