Commission
Biographies
STEVE MALNAR, CHAIRMAN. Steve holds
a degree in Business Administration from the University of New
Mexico. He has thirty-five years of technical and management
experience in information systems and technology. His work
experience includes Director Of Administration in the NM Attorney
General¹s office, Chief Information Manager for a large health care
system, and Computer Application Development Manager with the City
of Albuquerque. Upon retirement, Steve settled in Los Ojos, New
Mexico and became interested in the history of the railroad. The
difficulties of this past season have demonstrated how important the
railroad is to the economy of the area and stimulated him to help
preserve the railroad. Steve was appointed a commissioner in January
2003.
CARL TURNER. Carl is a native of
Mississippi but has lived most of his life in New Mexico. After
practicing law and serving a term in the New Mexico House of
Representatives, he became associated with the NM Rural
Electrification Cooperative Association, serving as its Executive
Director until he retired. In 1967 he played an active role in the
grassroots movement to have New Mexico and Colorado purchase the
railroad from the D&RGW. He previously served on the C&TS Railroad
Commission for many years under appointments from three
gubernatorial administrations. He was replaced in 1995 when Gary
Johnson was elected. He has acted as unpaid lobbyist for the
railroad during all the years both on and off the commission,
securing funding for the Osier dining hall, the rehabilitation of
locomotive 463, and the construction of passenger coaches. In the
past three years his experience and know-how has been directed at
obtaining increased state appropriations for bringing locomotives
into compliance with new federal regulations. Carl was reappointed a
commissioner in January 2003.
CAROL SALISBURY. Carol lives in Ft.
Collins, Colorado. She and her husband Jack together started
Salisbury & Associates Auctioneers & Appraisers, auction business in
1970. Together they ran the business for 20 years liquidating
businesses for lending institutions, attorneys and owners. Carol
left the business and went to the staff of then US Representative
Wayne Allard in 1991. She has been on his Senate staff for 4 years
where she serves as his Northern Area Director. Her duties are
managing the office and representing the Senator at functions in
Northern Colorado while he is in Washington DC. She also works with
his constituents when they have a problem with the Federal
Government and intervenes to assist them in solving their problems.
Carol and Jack are members of the Friends
of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and have been volunteering at
the summer work sessions for several years. Carol serves as a train
host during these work sessions to interpret history of the
Railroad. She was appointed by Governor Bill Owens to represent
Colorado as a Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commissioner in
January, 2000. Carol is a Colorado native and she and Jack have two
children, born in 1966 and 1970, Carol attended Colorado State
University.
WAYNE QUINLAN. Wayne
Quinlan is a rancher and developer in the Antonito area and is a
graduate of Colorado State University. Colorado Governor Bill Owens
appointed Mr. Quinlan in February 2003. His appointment to the
Commission continues a family tradition. His father, Clarence
Quinlan, was a member of the Colorado Legislature for many years and
introduced the legislation authorizing the purchase of the
Railroad. Clarence Quinlan served on the Commission from 1970 until
his death in 1987. Following his father’s death, Wayne Quinlan was
appointed to fill the vacancy and served until 2000. Commissioner
Quinlan currently serves with Mrs. Carol Salisbury, a long-time
Commissioner from Fort Collins, Colorado.
Staff Biographies
RICHARD GOMEZ.
The Commission’s
Executive Director, Richard Gomez, is a native of the Antonito area
and was appointed in May 2003. Mr. Gomez was involved with the C&TSR
over his 32 years of working as District Director of Farmers Home
Administration and Rural Development, providing millions of dollars
for renovations and track enhancements for the railroad. Since his
arrival, Mr. Gomez recognized the need for major improvements and
has deployed his fund-raising talents by helping the Commission
generate $5,000,000.
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Richard Gomez
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