Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 5, 2005

Metrorail 2005 Rodeo winners named

At the 2005 Metrorail Rodeo, Metrorail operators, station managers and maintenance teams showcased their skills in a series of competitions testing their professional operational and mechanical skills.

Metrorail Operator Willie B. Meade, of Upper Marlboro, MD, took first prize in the competition for operators. Meade is a start-up operator who tests new areas of the system before they open and test operates new railcars before they enter passenger service.

Metrorail Operator Elliot Thomas of Washington, DC, and the Brentwood Division won second place. There was a tie for third place between Metrorail Operator Joseph Latney of Temple Hills, MD, and the Branch Ave Division, and Metrorail Operator William Duckett, Jr., of Colmar Manor, MD, and the Glenmont Division.

In the competition, rail operators demonstrated how well they operate a train, including their focus on making clear and effective train announcements. They also were judged on how well they were able to stop a train without touching an obstacle.

In the first-ever competition for Metrorail station mangers, Terry Royce of the Alexandria Division captured first place. Royce, of Dunkirk, MD, outscored fellow station managers in a series of events including announcements, professional appearance, opening a station and inspecting a platform.

Second place honors went to Metrorail Station Manager Marion J. McNeil of Oxon Hill, MD. McNeil works out of the Brentwood Division. Metrorail Station Manager Warrenlettia Hunter of Suitland, MD, finished in third place. Hunter works in the West Falls Church Division. In the Rail Car Maintenance competition, the team from the Greenbelt Rail Yard, consisting of Sayeed Deen, of Silver Spring, MD, Royce Wist of Silver Spring, MD, and William Young of Baltimore earned first place honors.

Maintenance teams had to troubleshoot "problems," with trains hoisted in the air for mechanics to go beneath to make the necessary "repairs."

The second place team represented the Shady Grove Yard. Team members included Michael Lee of Columbia, MD, Efrain Rivera, of Silver Spring, MD, and Steve Firko of Glen Burnie, MD. The team from Brentwood, which included William Adams of Greenbelt, MD, Kendrick Oyola of Mount Ranier, MD, and Lamar Cowan of Landover, MD, finished in third place.

The first and second place operators, and first place maintenance team will represent Metro in June at the International Rail Rodeo in Pittsburgh.

News release issued on May 5, 2005.