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Archive News Story

October 11, 2014 - LCCA’s 45th Anniversary Celebration Dearborn, MI (recap)

On Saturday, October 11, LCCA members gathered at the Park Place Banquet facility in Dearborn MI to start off the year-long celebration of LCCA’s 45th Anniversary year. Former owner of Lionel, Mr. Dick Kugh was the featured guest speaker for the evening. I don’t know how we were able to pull it off, but we were 100% successful in surprising Dick with a surprise birthday cake celebration. Dick Kughn will turn 85 on October 31. Former President of Lionel Trains Inc, Nicholas DeGrazia and former Lionel plant manager Eugene Kutcher honored Dick by attending this great event.

Former LCCA officers and directors, Don Carlson, Larry Nahigian and Ed Richter took part in celebrating our 45th year anniversary. If it were not for Jim Gates (Charter member #1), 83 other Charter members and all of the volunteer officers, directors would not be so successful and be celebrating its 45th year of fun. Thank you Jim Gates, Charter Members, former officers, directors and volunteers who helped manage our club throughout these 45 years!

LCCA member Derek Thomas of Madison Poster Company and Notch6 Podcast donated a $200 check to the LCCA to help fund the LCCA Junior Membership program. This Donation was made from a portion of the proceeds made from the sale of Derek’s Madison Hardware shirts. Earlier in the day, the LCCA and Notch 6 had an opportunity to meet with Dick Kughn at his home for a personal interview. Stay tuned to our website www.lionelcollectors.org and www.notch6.com for a video and audio recording of our interview with Dick.

LCCA Member and renowned artist Ms. Angela Trotta Thomas was in attendance with her husband Bob. Angela’s original oil painting “LCCA 45 Years of Fun!” was on display during this event. Every member can purchase a $5 raffle ticket between now and July of 2015 at our club store on our website www.lionelcollectors.org. Every LCCA member will have an opportunity to win this original artwork. The LCCA will be announcing the luck winner of this painting during the Saturday evening banquet of our 45th Annual Convention to be held July 20-25, 2015 at the Double Tree Hotel in Danvers MA (near Boston)

The highlight of the event was when Angela and Bob Thomas presented Dick with an original painting depicting the Lionel Newsstand operating accessory with the Detroit News newspaper with the headline “Breaking News dick Kughn Celebrates 85th Birthday!”

Thank you to all of the LCCA members and guests for attending. Thank you Dick & Linda Kughn, Kughn Enterprises, Derek Thomas, Bob and Angela Trotta Thomas for making this such a special evening and successful LCCA Special Event.

Al Kolis
President-Elect & Special Events Manager
Lionel Collectors Club of America
248 709-4137
agkolis@comcast.net

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