About the authors:
Sharon Thatcher is former
managing
editor of the Merrill Courier, Merrill, Wis. and still involved with
special projects and production. She has been a professional
writer for the past 30 years, with dozens of freelance articles
appearing in regional and special interest publications. She
collaborated with the Merrill Historical Society for the publication: History of Merrill Wisconsin: The Jenny Years, 1847-1881,
which received a special commendation from the Wisconsin Historical
Society. She was also editor of the regionally available book, The Rangers’ Reign: A Glimpse of Semi-Pro Baseball in the ‘50s
by Louis Paetsch and Michael Weckwerth (if you are interested in the
Merrill Rangers book, contact us and we can put you in touch with the
authors).
Thomas E. Burg was one of the
FBI agents who played a pivotal role in the laser conspiracy case. He
began his career in Mississippi, working with cases involving the White
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. He retired in 1999 as Senior Resident
Agent in Wausau, WI. He is also a special interest writer and rail fan.
Years of research culminated in the book, White Pine Route: The History of the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company
published by the Museum of North Idaho (available through Amazon). The
book was one of 17 nominated for the Idaho Library Association 2003
Book Award. He was Security Advisor for the United States Figure
Skating Association from 2001 to 2004.
Sharon and Tom also collaborate on special interest photo CDs and photo
books through their small publishing company, Merrill Publishing
Associates.
Other books by Sharon Thatcher:
History of Merrill Wisconsin: The Jenny Years, 1847-1881
Copyright 2000 Merrill Historical Society, Merrill, WI (available through the Merrill Historical Society)
Other books by Thomas E. Burg:
White Pine Route, The History of the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company
Copyright 2003 Museum of North Idaho, Coeur D’Alene, ID
Other publications by Merrill Publishing Associates:
PHOTO CDs:
Burlington Route Steam Locomotives Photo CD, 2005
Soo Line Steam Locomotives Photo CD, 2005
Rock Island Steam Locomotives Photo CD, 2005
Walborn & Riker Catalog of Pony, Cob & Horse
Pleasure Vehicles CD, 2005
The Green Bay & Western Steam Era Locomotives Photo CD, 2006
Milwaukee Road - Steam in the West Photo CD, 2006
Davenport Locomotive Works Photo CD, 2007
Wisconsin Shortlines and Logging Railroads Photo CD, 2008
BOOKS:
Chicago’s Steam Suburbans, Photo book, 2007
Burlington Route Steam, Photo book, 2008
Milwaukee Road Steam in the West, Photo book, 2008
Soo Line Steam, Photo book, (Summer 2008)
Rock Island Steam, Photo book, (Fall 2008)
Books produced by Merrill Publishing Associates for the Milwaukee Road Historical Association:
Milwaukee Road Steam Locomotives,
Volume I, S Class Northerns, 2005 MRHA
Milwaukee Road Steam Locomotives,
Volume II, F6 Class Hudsons, 2006, MRHA
Milwaukee Road Steam Locomotives,
Volume III, F1-F5 Class Pacifics, 2007, MRHA
Milwaukee Road Steam Locomotives,
Volume IV, J, I and D Class Switchers, 2007, MRHA
(Milwaukee Road books available at www.mhra.com)