Mac Sebree
Encyclopedia
George McClellan Sebree III (August 26, 1932 – March 7, 2010), better known as Mac Sebree, was an American
journalist, writer and publisher whose area of expertise was urban mass transit
, particularly urban rail transit
. He was also a businessman, being owner and president of the publishing company, Interurban Press
, from 1975 until 1993. In addition to writing and publishing historical material, he also followed – and regularly reported on – contemporary developments concerning rail transit, and by the 1990s he had become an expert on light rail
in North America.
, he later lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico
, and attended the University of New Mexico
. He was editor of the university's student newspaper
(at the time named the New Mexico Lobo) from June to September 1954. Later, he was employed as a reporter for an Albuquerque newspaper. He worked as a newspaperman from 1956 until 1982, including 20 years covering transportation for United Press International
(UPI) and the Scripps
newspapers, the UPI stint lasting 11 years. For several years he additionally worked as a salesman for a syndicated
service providing illustrations for newspaper advertisements, the Stamps-Conhaim Creative Newspaper Advertising Service. He moved from Albuquerque to Southern California
in the late 1960s.
named Interurbans
, which published books about streetcar
s and interurban electric railways
. A longtime railfan
, particularly of streetcars and trolleybus
es, Sebree had already done some writing and editing for Interurbans, including co-authoring the books, Transit's Stepchild: The Trolley Coach (LCCN 73-84356) and The Trolley Coach in North America (LCCN 74-20367), in 1973 and 1974, respectively. Sebree renamed the business "Interurban Press
" and, after adding a partner, Jim Walker (as vice president), expanded the company's output.
Under Mac Sebree's ownership, Interurban acquired the monthly railfan-oriented magazines, Pacific RailNews
(PRN) and Passenger Train Journal
, and the bimonthly Private Varnish. In the case of PRN, Sebree was the magazine's publisher, and he also compiled a regular column of urban rail transit
news, which was published in each issue from the mid-1980s until 1993, when PRN was sold. He followed with great interest the revival in the 1980s of streetcars as a significant public transit mode in North America, modernized as "light rail"
, telling a Los Angeles Times
reporter in a 1983 interview, "The United States let a tremendous national asset go to waste when it junked its trolley systems, but the further the trolleys fade into the past, the larger the number of people who would like to have them back." Indeed, several cities did bring back rail transit, mostly in the form of light rail, in the 1980s and 1990s, and Sebree documented these developments as editor
of three editions of the North American Light Rail Annual and User's Guide (in 1992–94, published by Interurban Press/Pentrex
).
Although he authored few books himself, Sebree edited several books written by others, including When Oklahama Took the Trolley (1980) and The Railroad Artistry of Howard Fogg (1999).
In 1993, Sebree retired from full-time work, sold Interurban Press to Pentrex
and moved from southern California to Vancouver, Washington
. From his Vancouver home, he worked part-time as a transit consultant
. He also took on the job of editor
of Motor Coach Age, the quarterly magazine of the Motor Bus Society
, and held that position from January 1995 until fall 2003.
He was the "International Editor" (one of the contributing editor
s) for the quarterly New Electric Railway Journal
from fall 1996 until the cessation of publication of that magazine, in late 1998. His contributions to TNERJ also included articles on New Orleans'
plans to expand its heritage streetcar
system, as well as on light rail and streetcars in Australia
, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
In 2001, G. Mac Sebree introduced a new, monthly news column on rail transit
in Trains
magazine, entitled "City Rail", to report developments related to light rail
, streetcars, rapid transit
and commuter rail in North America, and he was the column's author/editor until 2003.
to support the construction of a permanent library and archive building.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, writer and publisher whose area of expertise was urban mass transit
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
, particularly urban rail transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
. He was also a businessman, being owner and president of the publishing company, Interurban Press
Interurban Press
Interurban Press was a small, privately owned American publishing company, specializing in books about streetcars, other forms of rail transit and railroads in North America, from 1943 until 1993. It was based in the Los Angeles area, and specifically in Glendale, California after 1976...
, from 1975 until 1993. In addition to writing and publishing historical material, he also followed – and regularly reported on – contemporary developments concerning rail transit, and by the 1990s he had become an expert on light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
in North America.
Early life and first career
G. M. Sebree adopted the nickname "Mac" at an early age and went by the name Mac Sebree, both personally and professionally, for most of his life, only modifying this slightly in 1995, to G. Mac Sebree. Growing up in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, he later lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, and attended the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. He was editor of the university's student newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
(at the time named the New Mexico Lobo) from June to September 1954. Later, he was employed as a reporter for an Albuquerque newspaper. He worked as a newspaperman from 1956 until 1982, including 20 years covering transportation for United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
(UPI) and the Scripps
E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878. The company is headquartered inside the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its corporate motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."On October 16, 2007, the company...
newspapers, the UPI stint lasting 11 years. For several years he additionally worked as a salesman for a syndicated
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
service providing illustrations for newspaper advertisements, the Stamps-Conhaim Creative Newspaper Advertising Service. He moved from Albuquerque to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in the late 1960s.
Transit writing and publishing
In 1975, Sebree inherited from his friend Ira Swett a small publishing companySmall press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
named Interurbans
Interurban Press
Interurban Press was a small, privately owned American publishing company, specializing in books about streetcars, other forms of rail transit and railroads in North America, from 1943 until 1993. It was based in the Los Angeles area, and specifically in Glendale, California after 1976...
, which published books about streetcar
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s and interurban electric railways
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
. A longtime railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
, particularly of streetcars and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es, Sebree had already done some writing and editing for Interurbans, including co-authoring the books, Transit's Stepchild: The Trolley Coach (LCCN 73-84356) and The Trolley Coach in North America (LCCN 74-20367), in 1973 and 1974, respectively. Sebree renamed the business "Interurban Press
Interurban Press
Interurban Press was a small, privately owned American publishing company, specializing in books about streetcars, other forms of rail transit and railroads in North America, from 1943 until 1993. It was based in the Los Angeles area, and specifically in Glendale, California after 1976...
" and, after adding a partner, Jim Walker (as vice president), expanded the company's output.
Under Mac Sebree's ownership, Interurban acquired the monthly railfan-oriented magazines, Pacific RailNews
Pacific RailNews
Pacific RailNews , originally named Pacific News and later RailNews, was an American monthly magazine about railroads and rail transit, oriented for railfans. It was published from 1961 until 1999...
(PRN) and Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal is an American magazine about passenger rail transport and rail transit, oriented for railfans. Founded in 1968, it was published continuously until 1996, and monthly from 1979 onward, but then ceased publication. After a 10-year absence, it was restarted in 2006 with a...
, and the bimonthly Private Varnish. In the case of PRN, Sebree was the magazine's publisher, and he also compiled a regular column of urban rail transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
news, which was published in each issue from the mid-1980s until 1993, when PRN was sold. He followed with great interest the revival in the 1980s of streetcars as a significant public transit mode in North America, modernized as "light rail"
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, telling a Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reporter in a 1983 interview, "The United States let a tremendous national asset go to waste when it junked its trolley systems, but the further the trolleys fade into the past, the larger the number of people who would like to have them back." Indeed, several cities did bring back rail transit, mostly in the form of light rail, in the 1980s and 1990s, and Sebree documented these developments as editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of three editions of the North American Light Rail Annual and User's Guide (in 1992–94, published by Interurban Press/Pentrex
Pentrex
Pentrex Media Group, LLC, is an American producer and seller of railfan-related videos and DVDs, founded in 1984 and currently based in Pasadena, California. The company discontinued the sale of VHS video tapes on July 31, 2009....
).
Although he authored few books himself, Sebree edited several books written by others, including When Oklahama Took the Trolley (1980) and The Railroad Artistry of Howard Fogg (1999).
In 1993, Sebree retired from full-time work, sold Interurban Press to Pentrex
Pentrex
Pentrex Media Group, LLC, is an American producer and seller of railfan-related videos and DVDs, founded in 1984 and currently based in Pasadena, California. The company discontinued the sale of VHS video tapes on July 31, 2009....
and moved from southern California to Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
. From his Vancouver home, he worked part-time as a transit consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
. He also took on the job of editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Motor Coach Age, the quarterly magazine of the Motor Bus Society
Motor Bus Society
The Motor Bus Society is a United States-based non-profit organization formed by a voluntary association of persons who share an interest in buses and bus transportation in North America and, in particular, the history of the same. Founded in 1948, it publishes the quarterly magazine, Motor Coach...
, and held that position from January 1995 until fall 2003.
He was the "International Editor" (one of the contributing editor
Contributing editor
A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. The contributing editor regularly contributes articles to the publication but does not actually edit articles, and the title...
s) for the quarterly New Electric Railway Journal
The New Electric Railway Journal
The New Electric Railway Journal was a quarterly American magazine primarily about electric urban rail transit in North America, published from 1988 to 1998, with an international circulation. Its name was a tribute to a much earlier magazine with similar coverage, the Electric Railway Journal,...
from fall 1996 until the cessation of publication of that magazine, in late 1998. His contributions to TNERJ also included articles on New Orleans'
Streetcars in New Orleans
Streetcars in New Orleans have been an integral part of the city's public transportation network since the first half of the 19th century. The longest of New Orleans' streetcar lines, the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world,...
plans to expand its heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
system, as well as on light rail and streetcars in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
In 2001, G. Mac Sebree introduced a new, monthly news column on rail transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
in Trains
Trains (magazine)
Trains is a monthly magazine dedicated to trains and railroads, and is one of the two flagship publications of Kalmbach Publishing. The magazine is read both by railroad enthusiasts, commonly referred to as railfans, and those within the railroad industry....
magazine, entitled "City Rail", to report developments related to light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, streetcars, rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
and commuter rail in North America, and he was the column's author/editor until 2003.
Philanthropy
In 2005, Sebree donated $20,000 to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (based in Sacramento, California), to establish a trust fund to provide permanent support for publication of the organization's longtime journal, Railroad History. In 2008 Sebree donated $10,000, and pledged $90,000 more, to the Orange Empire Railway MuseumOrange Empire Railway Museum
The Orange Empire Railway Museum , 2201 South "A" Street, Perris, California, is a railroad museum founded in 1956 at the Pinacate Station as the "Orange Empire Trolley Museum." The museum also operates a heritage railroad on the museum grounds.-Background:The collection focuses on Southern...
to support the construction of a permanent library and archive building.