In Memory

Philip Vincent Bagdon - Class Of 1971

Philip V. Bagdon


Philip Vincent Bagdon, 50, of Hinton, was found dead at his home on February 11, 2003, of an apparent heart attack. He was a writer and historian, with a special interest in the railroad and lumber industry history of West Virginia.

He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on November 1, 1952, the son of the late Vincent J. and Phyllis Bagdon.

A vacation visit to the Cass Scenic Railroad with his parents in 1964 began Mr. Bagdon's deep interest in the history of Cass and logging railroads in West Virginia. His writing experience began while in college, working for Jim Comstock's West Virginia Hillbilly during the summers.
He received a degree in printing management from the West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1976. Following graduation, he worked a summer job for the CSRR and then moved to New York City to begin a career as a writer, editor, graphic designer, and print/promotion consultant. Mr. Bagdon returned to Alexandria in 1992 and moved to Hinton in 1994. He worked again at the CSRR in 1996 and 1997.

He was the author of books on the logging railroads of the W. Va. Pulp and Paper Company and the Meadow River Lumber Company. A book on the Cherry River Boom and Lumber Company was underway at the time of his death. He also authored two booklets on Cass and wrote numerous articles that appeared in a number of magazines.

Mr. Bagdon was a member of the Mountain State Railroad and Logging Historical Association and editor it its magazine, The Log Train, for two years.

He attended the Nazarene Church.

His only survivor is a distant cousin, Jane Wait, of Ashland, Va.

A memorial service was held at the First Christian Church in Hinton on February 22. His body was cremated.