Building the Railroad Workers Memorial in Cotter, Arkansas: Trout Capital USA

Memorial Planning, Construction and Dedication

Cotter, Arkansas

The purpose of the memorial is to recognize and preserve Cotter's railroad history and to honor the railroad workers, and their families, who lived that history. The railroad's role in Cotter has diminished over the years, but its influence helped in the establishment and growth of this early 1900s railroad boomtown, once the largest town in North Arkansas.

The memorial is the result of a plan by the non-profit organization, Cotter Care Crews, which was determined to preserve Cotter's railroad history with a memorial or museum. The Care Crews were able to proceed with the plan due, in large measure, to a donation of seed funds by the late Gwen Tinnon Derouin. The memorial was completed after two years of raising additional funds from donations, obtaining grants, planning and overseeing the project, and providing volunteer labor.

Gwen Tinnon Derouin
Gwen Tinnon Derouin, born in Cotter and daughter of past railroad worker Hugh Tinnon, requested that the memorial be dedicated to her father and a close family friend Roy Lee Anglin; thus, in their honor and in the honor of numerous past and present railroad workers who were a part of Cotter's railroad history and culture, the memorial is called the Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial.

Roy Lee "Slick" Anglin
Roy Lee Anglin (1916-1999) retired in 1981 from Missouri Pacific after 45 years of service. He started railroading in 1936 as a laborer in Missouri Pacific's Cotter Shop and as a crew caller. He advanced to locomotive fireman in 1940 and was promoted to engineer in 1947. He lived in Cotter most of his life.

W. Hugh "Hugh Dad" Tinnon
W. Hugh Tinnon (1889-1977) was one of the original White River Division ridgerunners; he started his railroad career with the old Missouri Pacific-Iron Mountain in 1910 as a locomotive fireman and later was engineer for Missouri Pacific. He retired in the late 1950s from Missouri Pacific with some 45 years of service. He was a long-time resident of Cotter.

At the dedication on May 3, 2003, Lynn Anglin Stude shared these thoughts:

On behalf of the Cotter Care Crews, including both past and present members, I want to welcome you to the dedication of the Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers' Memorial. Also, I want to extend a welcome to you on behalf of our members who cannot be with us today.

One of these is my mother, Doris Anglin, who died on February 13 of this year. She and her friend, Gwen Tinnon Derouin, believed in this project. They helped to make this memorial possible for you and future generations to enjoy and to remember Cotter's railroad heritage. There was a great bond between these two women, who called themselves sisters. They loved each other, their families and their communities.

We appreciate everyone who was involved in our project. They put their hearts and pride into the workmanship -- you can tell -- just look around you. These people include:

Lee Roy Anglin
The Baxter Bulletin
John Dennis, Model for the Conductor
Phillip Anglin, Model for the Conductor
Peggy Dunn
Thomas Dunn
Jerry Stude
Lynn Stude
Mountain Home Public Library
G-Force Sandblasting
Dog-Day Remodeling
Jimmy Grant, Concrete
Elite-Crete Overlays
Magness Oil
Rex Kasinger, Brickwork
KTLO Radio
Benny & Janie Magness
Gassville Locksmith & Towing Chaney Monument of Gainesville, MO
Elma Collins, Artist
Jim Westbrook, Sculptor
Messick - Cheek Electric
North Arkansas Fence
Ron Smith
Richard Weaver
Advanced Detection Systems
Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad
Gary Franklin, Union Pacific Railroad
Terry Cooper, Architect
Jack Burkhart, Cotter Chief of Police
Outback Banner and Signs
Lewis Signs & Neon
Ozark Springs Nursery
Arkansas Department of Corrections
Rusty Neel, Brickwork

I also want to thank several CCC members who worked so hard and volunteered countless hours on the project and other CCC members for their support and volunteer for work on numerous fund raising events.

The purpose of our organization is to improve our streets, our homes, and the development of our parks and other facilities.

In order to accomplish these improvements, we volunteer our talents, time and efforts toward the development of a more beautiful, harmonious and caring community."

After her remarks, she introduced the speakers: Jerry Stude, who spoke on the history of the railroad in Cotter; Mary Ann Messick, the Baxter County Historian and a railroader's daughter who shared some living experiences of our railroad history, and Baxter County Judge, Joe Bodenhamer.