Ralph Orgill was born on January 5, 1926 in West Jordan, Utah to Edward and Edith Orgill where the couple raised eight children on a farm. After graduating high school he served in the Navy before attending the University of New Mexico studying accounting. He married Pearl Blair in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 9, 1946 and they would have two children.

He served a long career with Kennecott’s Nevada Mines Division where he would be the division comptroller in McGill.

When operations ceased in 1983, he was the Vice President and Superintendent in charge of reclamation of the Nevada operations.

At the time, the future of the communities looked grim, and it seemed that the railroad would be torn up for scrap. A group of concerned citizens approached Kennecott and asked for the railroad to operate as tourist train in an attempt to save the town.

Kennecott agreed to the proposal and through a series of donations the railroad was transferred over to the local community.

Ralph was tasked with this monumental task in addition to cleaning up the smelter site. He was present at most of the donation ceremonies and can be seen in this photo standing at the far right speaking to members of the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation on this history of locomotive #310.

Ralph Orgill passed away on October 22, 2011 at the age of 85 and is buried in Salt Lake City.