It is with great regret that we announce the passing of one of NRMI's founders, Dallas Brownson, on April 23, 2015.
Dallas was born on April 23, 1948 in Flint, Michigan. He worked in the family business Brownson Fisher Wall Paper and Paint that was an anchor store in Downtown Flint for many years, located in the historic Paterson Carriage Factory building. When the business sold, Dallas worked as the manager for the historic building and owned/operated the Music Warehouse located there. His true profession was as a free-lance photographer, but his passion was history, historic buildings and railroads. Mr. Brownson alone worked to obtain a state historic designation for the Paterson (Brownson) Building in 1981 and had it placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1984. He was an original member of the Durand Union Station Model Railroad Engineers helping to create the popular historically to scale model train layout exhibit at Durand Union Station. Naturally, Mr. Brownson became involved in the restoration of the train station and was the full time volunteer archivist for the Margaret Zdunic Archive in the station for three years.
Given his love of history, railroading and his volunteering spirit, in 2009, with the help of his wife, Mr. Brownson formed the National Railroad Memorial, Inc., a nonprofit corporation dedicated to honoring the men and women of the railroad industry by building a national railroad memorial in a beautiful park in downtown Durand. At his death, he served as President of the corporation and was working with the City of Durand to build the memorial and park. However, first and foremost, Dallas Brownson was a loving husband and partner to his wife Jan and a devoted friend to his family and acquaintances.
He will be deeply missed.