Warren Mcgee collection, 1890-1998

Warren Russell McGee was born in Livingston, Montana, on September 7, 1914, the second child of Howard E. and Mildred (Reeves) McGee. He graduated from Park County High School in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression. As a young man, he took whatever work he could find, including dish washing for a road construction crew on the Beartooth Highway, laboring on the Fort Peck Dam, and construction work on Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park. In 1936 he began his lifetime work for the Northern Pacific Railway, as a brakeman. He was drafted into the Army Air Force in March 1942 and served as a maintenance man in a photo reconnaisance squadron in the Solomon's and Saipan. After his discharge from the military in September 1945, he returned to work for the Northern Pacific Railway. He worked his way up to conductor and continued to work for the Northern Pacific, Burlington Northern, and Amtrak until his retirement on October 31, 1975.

McGee was chairman from 1960 until 1970 of the Livingston Anti-Merger Committee, which was dedicated to opposing the creation of the Burlington Northern Railroad. He was also an outspoken advocate of the continuation of rail service to Montana communities. McGee made two unsuccessful campaigns for public office, first in 1966 when he ran for the Legislature, and again in 1971 when he ran as a delegate to the Montana Constitutional Convention. In spite of his two defeats he remained very active with the Montana Democratic Party.

During his service in World War II, McGee became an expert photographer. He combined that skill with his love of trains into a hobby of railroad photography. He compiled one of the most complete photo documentations of locomotives in existence.

In September 1946, McGee married Bernice Lavold, daughter of Knute and Helen (Berg) Lavold of Big Timber. They had one son, Howard, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 22. Bernice shared Warren's passion for politics and railroads, writing many letters to the editor. She was active in the community as a Cub Scout den mother, as a founder of Livingston's Meals on Wheels Program, as a board member for the Livingston Memorial Hospital, and numerous other community projects. She died February 15, 2001.