Jim Foley grew up with trains – both toy and real. His grandparents’ home backed up on a train yard with steam (and later diesel) engines. He received a Lionel train set when he was about 5 years old; over the years, it grew into a large Christmas-time layout with three trains, miniature village, mountain, creek, operating accessories and a gigantic control panel. At first, Jim wanted to be a railroad engineer, but he discovered a knack for electricity and building things, so he turned to electrical engineering. That in turn led him to computers, which led to computer graphics, which led to human computer interfaces. You know the rest.

Jim still does trains. When his term as CRA board chair ended, his thank you gift was a steam engine with James D. Foley on the cab and an observation car labeled Computing Research Association. He operates this on his backyard garden railroad, often accompanied by his three-year old grandson, JD.

These eight steps in honorary donation status reflect Jim’s love of railroading:

Foley Scholars Conductor (Founding Patron) - $100,000 (over 5 years)

Conductor – the senior crew member on a freight or passenger train responsible for the safe, prompt movement of the train

Foley Scholars Engineer - $50,000 (over 5 years)

Engineer – the crew member responsible for the physical operation of a freight or passenger train and for monitoring the locomotive's running condition

Foley Scholars Fireman - $10,000 (over 5 years)

Fireman – the crew member responsible for keeping fire and steam up in a steam locomotive; ensures the boiler maintains sufficient steam pressure and thus, momentum

Foley Scholars Dispatcher - $5,000 (over 3 years)

Dispatcher – an employee who coordinates all train movements in his assigned area (usually one division); he is authorized to issue specific orders to keep trains moving

Foley Scholars Stationmaster - $1,000 (over 3 years)

Stationmaster – the person in charge of the train station

Foley Scholars Yardmaster - $500 (over 3 years)

Yardmaster – railroad employee in charge of yard operations

Foley Scholars Crew Member - $100

Crew Member – an organized group of railroad workers

Foley Scholar Railfan – Any Amount

Railfan – an individual who enjoys riding, watching, photographing, and reading about trains; a hobbyist or enthusiast of trains

To see a list of the current founders, click here