“Trained in the family business” is the caption of a feature article in the New Haven, CT Register (2/15/2015 edition) written by Shahid Abdu’l-Karim. Thus began the intriguing account of another Roanoker bringing national (and international) honor to himself and to Roanoke’s little known or recorded proud Black History.
“The great-grandfather of Marcellus Edwards III helped lead a protest of Black railroad workers against White union bosses in a bid to be represented by the same union. That effort in 1944 led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in support of the Black unionist.” His grandfather and father were also railroad employees.
Seventy-one years later, Edwards, III, at age 50, has been elected First African American Connecticut legislative representative for the Association of Commuter Rail Employees that represents Metro-North conductors. His great-grandfather, Rufus Edwards, was a brakeman and union leader for Norfolk & Western Railway in Roanoke during the period when discrimination was legal and there were no laws to protect Black rail or other workers.
“I do sit and think about what he would think of me and what I’m doing now,” he remarked, adding that he had his sights on the position in 2011 but that was the year his father died. “The timing wasn’t right and mentally I wasn’t there. I knew when it came around again in 2014 I was going to run for the position,” said Edwards who has been working for Metro-North since 1989. According to Local 1 President Michael Shaw, a diverse group of employees voted Edwards into the position.
Although Edwards comes from a family of railroad employees, the profession was not his preference growing up.
“Whenever the family got together all they talked about was the railroad and I joked that I’d never work on the railroad.” He was employed at that time by a communications company selling network services after graduation from college. His father, however was persistent about his following family legacy which he knew would provide a good living for him and his family. The graduate from Delaware State University had never heard of Metro-North but the job paid $3.00 more than what he was making so he took it–to his father’s delight!
Throughout his railroad career Edwards, III has held various positions at Metro-North including train master (1993)–like his father who retired in 1987 after 20 years with Conrail. He was also an instructor in the training department and in 2002 became assistant chief training officer overseeing the training department of all conductors. He also served as an adjunct professor at Gateway Community College teaching railroad engineering among numerous other commitments before becoming “burned out” and returning to being a conductor flag, “but on the capital side of the railroad,” he added. In addition Edwards serves on numerous community boards and committees.
“I’ve always tried to associate myself with the best…I work hard everyday to do that. There’s always an opportunity to uplift someone in the community.”
Edwards also received the Omega Man of the Year during this month.
