Bellevue Mayor David Kile was the opening speaker, on behalf of the City of Bellevue. He was followed by Roger Fuehring, eldest son, representing the Fuehring Family. Roger is a chip off the old block and had a warm and wonderful heartfelt chat with those assembled. As he is definitely his Father's son, at one point he addressed Steve Tobias directly and asked for one of the Business Cars for the museum when NS was finished with it.  Again, doing what Bill would do or so he thought. 

Dennis Brandal as representative of Mad River and NKP Railroad Society spoke of his early memories of Bill Fuehring and the effect Bill had on his life and the lives of many over the decades. Dennis then introduced Steve Tobias.

Mr. Tobias began his remarks by stating the obvious, that it is difficult to follow a Fuehring to the podium. He then tied it all together, past and present, as he was there in 1976 and on hand again in 2008. He did note that Roger was not quite up to Bill's level of "no shame" yet in asking NS for favors. Roger asked for just one car. Mr Tobias said "Bill would have asked for the whole damn train". It then became obvious that Steve knew Bill very well indeed.

At the conclusion of prepared remarks, Dennis Brandal asked 4 of the 14 Fuehring grand children to join him on the stage. Emily Runkle, Elise Will, Zachery Fuehring and Katherine Fuehring then unveiled the large bronze plaque, complete with a very real likeness of Bill as a conductor. 

For more photos of the ceremony, please click here.