A Fight for the Right

T. E. Goodin loved working for the railroad.  In a letter dated March 1944, to his son, John, who was serving in Europe, he said:  Every thing is going good on the Clinchfield and Ill be here as long as they will let me run my part of it as long as I live your mother says it is my first love and Ill stay with it Ive always wanted to be running a train when I was 75 years old but the way I feel now I think Ill raise it to 80.  I see where one man is running a passenger train at 82.  or retired at 82  Ide like to run as long as I am able to hold down the job and Ill be right here on the Job when you get back if God is willing (that is on the Clinchfield) if I dont get fired.

John D. Goodin said of his father: It was said of him that he loved railroading better than anything, and his wish that he might die on the railroad was denied because of compulsory retirement.

In 1954, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen which outvoted the Conductors for bargaining purposes entered into an agreement to require compulsory retirement of Conductors who reached the age of 70.  When notified by the Railroad of the agreement on June 12, 1954, he requested that he be allowed to work until he completed fifty years of service which would have been October 30th, 1955.  He wanted his Fifty-Year Service pin.  When he was notified by the Railroad on November 15th that his request was denied and a date of November 21st set for retirement, he advised the Railroad that suit would be filed in the U. S. District Court.  When the Railroad attorney advised the Union of this, it still would not agree to an exception.  He filed suit, along with the Conductors involved, in the Federal Court, obtaining an injunction keeping them at work pending a disposition of the case.  When the District Court ruled against them, the Federal Judge granted an appeal with the Order that they continue working during the course of the appeal."

As a result of the case, he was able to work until June 16th, 1956, and of course, had already received the coveted Fifty-Year Service pin.

A formal presentation of the Fifty-Year Service pin was held on February 23, 1956.  Superintendent of the Clinchfield Railroad, D. H. Hendrix, presented the pin to Conductor Goodin.  During the presentation, Hendrix expounded on the exemplary record of Goodin and pointed out that in his fifty years of "loyal faithful service there had been no discipline imposed nor had there been a personal injury in the reportable category which is unique in the annals of railroading on the Clinchfield and no doubt outstanding so far as any other railroad's record."  Goodin was lauded for his "distinguished record of dependability and loyalty with the deep appreciation of the General Manager and other officers of the Company."

Goodin, too, expressed deep appreciation to Mr. Hendrix and the Clinchfield Railroad Company stating, "I have known and worked with the officials of the old South and Western, the Three C's, the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio and other lines, but no where have I been treated with more understanding and respect than with our present Superintendent and other officers of the Clinchfield.  You have had and will continue to have my complete loyalty as long as I remain in your service and for all of my friends and the management I want to say a happy thank you!!!"

Hendrix, at the end of the presentation said of Goodin, "Today at the age of 78 he is mentally alert and as active and agile as a man of the early fifties.  He will celebrate his 79th birthday on September 10, 1956.  Congratulations to you Captain Goodin, one of the most efficient and loyal conductors the Clinchfield ever had!!!!"