Biographies 
Chef de Chemin de Fer Frank Campo
Frank Campo was born on December 16, 1965, in Springfield, IL where he grew up and attended
school. Upon graduating he joined the US Army as a combat engineer in 1983. Frank is married to the former Jodie Cruthis on December 14, 2012, whom he has known since they were 10. They have a blended family of five children and thirteen grandchildren. Frank has a Bachelor of Arts from California State University San Bernardino in Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies. He also is an ordained Baptist minister.
Frank has been stationed at several military bases in the Continental United States, with assignments at the United States Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; United States Army Armor Center and School, Fort Knox, Kentucky; United States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; and the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.
Additionally, Frank has been assigned to United States Army Europe, where he completed a three-year assignment in Bavaria Germany during the Cold War. While assigned to the VII Corps of the United States Army, he attended the 3rd Infantry Division Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. Frank was assigned to the United States Army Jungle Operations Training Center, Fort Sherman Panama, the spring of 1990. That fall, he was assigned to the plans and operations section of the XVIII Airborne Corps in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Upon leaving active duty, Frank began a career with the United States Department of Justice as a federal law enforcement officer in 1991 retiring in 2004. From 2005-2009, Frank was employed by the County of San Bernardino School District as a public safety officer and later teacher. He began his career with the State of California in 2009. Frank retired in 2021 as the state veteran’s representative for the Employment Development Department and was employed as the Local Veterans Employment Representative.
Frank was highly active in the Santa Maria and Lompoc communities. He served as Public Safety Commissioner for the City of Lompoc; and represented Santa Barbara County 4th Supervisory District as Commissioner for the Veterans Services Advisory Commission. He was the President for the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was the Junior Vice Commander for the William T Sherman Post #28, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Santa Barbara. He served on the Board of Directors for: the Good Samaritan Shelter; Valley Haven Adult Day Program; Boys Scouts of America; the Committee to Improve North County; Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee; Lompoc Valley Medical Center PFAC; Lompoc Rotary Club; the Lompoc YMCA; and the Allan Hancock College Foundation. Frank was appointed by the President to the Selective Service System Local Board for Santa Barbara County and re-appointed to represent the State of Illinois.
Frank is a member of the Fremont Voiture 1179 and was wrecked in June 2009. He was the Chef de Gare from 2011-2016 and held the position of Garde de la Porte; Nurses Training Director; Voiture Activities; POW/MIA Director. Frank was elected as Grand Cheminot of the 4th District for 2011-12. Frank also belongs to the General’s Club; Boxcar Association; and the Chef de Gare Passe club. He was Chef de Gare for the Grand du California in 2016. Frank was elected Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer in 2019-2021. He is also a “Guardian” of the Paul Bunyan Gavel. Most recently, he served as Nationale Directeur of the Americanism Program and is an advisor to the Blue Chevaliers project.
Frank is currently a member of Post 32, American Legion in Springfield, IL. He is a past member of Corporal Marshall N Braden, American Legion Post 56 in Santa Maria, California from 2001-2022. From 2010-2014 he served as the Commander for the Post. Frank served as District Commander from 2019-2021. Frank is a member of the Past Commanders Club and was Past President of Outpost 16.
Additionally, he was Commander of DAV Chapter 91 in Lompoc, California and has served as the Service Officer and Legislative Aide for the chapter; and is a current member of National Order of Trench Rats, Dugout 460; 75th Ranger Regiment Association; Army Engineer Association; Association of the United States Army; Air Force Association; Patriot Guard Riders; Frank also belongs to the following public safety associations: Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Emerald Society of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies; California Gang Investigators Association.
In 2013, he was awarded “California Voyageur of the Year” from the 40&8; 2014 “Legionnaire of the Year” for the tri-counties from the American Legion; 2015 “Citizen of the Year” for Elks Lodge 2274; 2016 recipient of the “Paul Bunyan Gavel”. He is a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International as well as a George Washington Fellow from the Sons of the American Revolution.
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer Kevin Johnson
My name is Kevin Johnson and I served in the U.S. Army from January 14, 1975 to
February 2, 1990. I served in several positions in the Army to include Drill Sergeant as a E-5, E-6, and E-7. While serving on active duty I received several awards and decorations. After a small break I went back to work for the Army and I am still working for the Army as a master Instructor with over 35 years federal service.
I joined La Societe Voiture 460 Grand du Missouri in 1992. I have served my Voiture Locale in every office to include Chef de Gare two times. I have held most of the offices at the Grand level to include Grand Chef de Gare in 2005. I am currently serving my Grand as Grand Cheminot at Large (8 years), Grand Directeur Nurses Training, Chairman of time and Place Committee , and have been Chairman of the Nomination Committee for the last ten years. At the National level I have served as Alternate Cheminot Nationale, Cheminot Nationale, Sous Directeur (3 times) Conducteur Nationale, and Treasurer Nurses Training Program (2 years).
I look forward to working with the membership committee, and the Grand Voitures and Voiture locales.
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer John Edelblute, IV
My name is John W Edelblute IV. I was born in Milwaukee, WI on June 11th 1966.I was raised in
Hartford WI until I entered military service at the age of 17. One of my major accomplishments before my military service was attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in November of 1983. I have used the values I learned while was a member of the BSA that I still practice today. You know the saying “Be Prepared”.
I served in the US Army from 8 FEB 84 until being Honorably Discharged on 7 May 87. My MOS of choice was a 94B, Food Service Specialist. That’s right I was a “Spoon Daddy”. This is a job I thoroughly enjoyed. I was stationed with B CO 27Maint. Btln. 1st Cav Div at Fort Hood Texas with the n my military career being stationed with 21st Replacement Btln. At Rhein Mein Air Force Base outside Frankfurt Germany.
I have been a member of Forty and Eight for 18 years. I have seved Milwaukee County Locale 1519 in most all offices to include Chef de Gare. I have also served the Grand de WI as Cheminot for my District as well as moving up as a Line Officer serving in all the positions to include Grand Chef de Gare. I have just completed a four-year appointment as a Sous Directeur VAVS of Area III. I am currently serving as the VAVS Directeur and Alternate Cheminot for the Grand de WI. I also volunteer and am the current VAVS Representative at the Clement J Zablocki VA in Milwaukee. I currently work part- time for the DAV of WI as the Asst. DAV Hospital Coordinator also at the Milwaukee VA.
I am an active 26-year member of The American Legion where I currently serve as the 4th District Adjutant, ALRA 4/5 District Asst. Director and also as the American Legion Dept. of WI Scouting Chairman. I am also a member of the Amvets, CWV, PLAV and the Oak Creek Lions Club. As you can see, I keep myself pretty busy.
I am married to my lovely wife Sam who is very active with Cabane 526 of the Grande WI. We reside in Cudahy WI where we have lived for many years Needless to say, this is our home.
I look forward to serving you as one of your four Aous Chef Chem de Fer Nationale this coming term. Please remember to Hug a Veteran everyday and that Doing Good Has NO End.
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer John Rodgers
John Rodgers was born in 1960. The second son of James and Eileen Rodgers.
Growing up in New York City John Along with his older brother James Jr. had a great childhood.
After High School John worked on Wall Street as a stock and options clerk and ran and finished the New York City
Marathon one year. He eventually worked as a subway conductor for the Transit Authority and later in life joined the Army.
He was trained to be an armament System specialist for the Apache Helicopters. Unfortunately, in that service in Germany
John was injured in a Maintenace accident and thus began a long medical journey and recovery.
Despite being a 100% Disabled Veteran John has devoted his time to helping his fellow Veterans and especially their widows.
Many were able to secure benefits with John's assistance. John has held many positions in several Veteran and Fraternal organizations.
He embarked on creating and supporting activities and fundraisers to establish monuments at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery.
Many of our fellow Veterans and their Spouses rest in that Cemetery and the monuments are a testament to the support and care the
Forty and Eight have provided to our fellow Veterans and families. John Rodgers has single handedly donated and raised funds to
erect and dedicate these monuments.
John is unmarried but he is a family man having lived with and cared for his mother for the last 17 years of her life after his father's death.
John also enjoys the many family gatherings with his Brother James and his large Family. They all know him just as "Uncle John". John's life has
been one at service, sacrifice and devotion to his Country and its proud flag. He has shown his devotion to our Veterans and the many Veterans organizations he belongs to. He is proud to belong to Locale 1031 Grande du Texas for the past 17 years.
John Resides in Sun City in Georgetown, Texas and along with his dog buddy enjoys his many responsibilities with the Forty and Eight.
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer Ron Garland
I was born and raised in Ohio but now live in Jacksonville Florida. I enlisted in the United States
Navy on November 16, 1965. I served 4 years in the Naval Air Community serving in VRF 31 at Naval Air Station in Norfolk Va, then ships company at Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and then my last two years was with VC-4 Det Cecil at Cecil Field Naval Air station Jacksonville Florida. I was transferred into the Navy Reserve in November 1969 and received an honorably discharged in November 1972. I attained the rank of Petty Officer Second Class as a jet engine mechanic. I received the National Defense Medal and a unit citation. I later joined the Army Reserve and discontinued serving when the unit I was in was dissolved.
After the Navy I joined the NECA/IBEW Electrical Apprenticeship, graduating after four years as a journeyman electrician. I worked with my tools for approximately 10 years and was then sent to the NECA/IBEW Electrical Estimating School and after moved into the estimating and project management. I started First Coast Electrical Company operating concurrently with Garland and Sons Mechanical. After selling the companies I worked in management doing several large projects and later managing as CEO Campbells Electric Company in Nassau Bahamas.
I later started Markland Building Group and sold it just three years later enabling me to enjoy early retirement in 2006.
It was during the Markland Building Group time that I met my wife Robbie on a bus at the airport. Robbie and I married 18 years ago in Jamaica. We have between us three sons and three grandchildren. We lived in Jacksonville and then took an adventure and lived in Costa Rica for four years after which we returned to Jacksonville.
I am or have been a member of the Past Grand Chef de Gare in Florida and in Oregon, The Germany Club, American Legion, Sons of American Legion, The Loyal Order of Moose, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Youth Sports Coach from 1975 t0 1988.
I was wrecked into La Societe’ in October 1999 at Voiture 215 Jacksonville Beach Florida. I am now a member of voiture 954.
I have held the locale offices of Aumonier, POWMIA Directeur, Garde de la Porte, Correspondant, Chef de Gare 2009 and again in 2010 along with being on the Wrecking Crew.
At the Grande level I have served as POW/MIA Directeur, Commis Voyager, Garde de la Porte, Conducteur, Chef de Train, Chef de Gare 2013, Alternate Cheminot Nationale, Cheminot Nationale and Grand Organizer.
At the Nationale level I have held the offices of Sous Child Welfare 2015 and 2016, Executive Committee, Americanism Treasurer 2021 and 2022.
At present I hold the office of Nurses Training Directeur Locale, Grand Organizer, Grand Americanism Directeur, Nationale Cheminot, and Nationale Americanism Treasurer.
It is my belief that becoming a Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer is a great honor and I look forward to serving in that position.
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