On living out loud: Orvie E. Linsin, 1939-2012

摘要

The people at St. Louis-based Norman Lumber Co. recently lost a longtime colleague and dear friend, and a shining example of someone to whom "live" truly was an active verb. Orvie E. Linsin, a singular personality who served the rail industry for 50 years, died May 14 of complications following heart surgery. He was 73. Named after a grandfather who had been involved in the tank-car business, Linsin began his rail career with Midland Reclamation Co. (MRC). Founded by his uncle, the St. Louis company bought, sold and reclaimed second-hand rail-car parts, and operated a tank-car repair and cleaning facility. Linsin started working there in the repair shop, eventually becoming a full-time sales rep. After 30 years with MRC, he added other repair shops to his sales-rep portfolio. Then in 1996, he joined Norman Lumber, a forest products manufacturer and distributor. There, he sold yellow pine and oak wood products (including decking and fractional cut lumber) to the rail industry.