William R. (Bill) Jones is a native of Macon, Ga., and has had an interest in the Central of Georgia since he was in high school in the 1960s. He began photographing and watching the last days of the Nancy Hanks II while a student at Mercer University. Bill was a member of the “original” CGRHS in the late 1980s, and rejoined the current Society around 2000. Bill’s grandfather was an engine dispatcher on the CofGa, and retired with 43 years of service. His grandfather, as well as several aunts (also employed by the CofGa) lived next to the CofGa line near Vineville Hill. He recalls, as a young child, riding the Payne Mill switcher out to the crossing at Payne to be picked up by his dad.

Bill now lives near milepost 200 and can see, and hear, the present day operations on the former Central of Georgia. He is retired and has a background in banking and fi nancial management.