Few 12-year-old kids know what they want
to do when they grow up, but thanks to my
family's frequent picnicking and camping
in Upper Michigan and my proximity to
Grand Trunk Western Railroad, I wanted to
be a forester or a locomotive engineer. A
full scholarship to Michigan Technological
University made the decision very easy!
I had a vocation and an avocation.
Over the course of 40 years I worked for
cities like San José and Chico in California,
Hayden and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, and
Missoula, Montana. I also worked for
Davey Tree Surgery [sic], Forest-Ag, and the
Idaho Department of Lands. I hung up my
hat working for someone else on July 12,
2019. Remember that avocation? When in
California, I was the Chief Arborist for the
Niles Canyon Railway, a short-line museum
railroad in the Bay Area with 12 miles of
track. I was also a Qualified Conductor.
Now that I am retired, I go back to the
Bay Area to work on the railroad for a
week or two at a time. Trains and trees—
what could be a better combination?
My wife Julene and I own 40 acres of
timber, so I get to practice my forestry
skills. I am the Deputy Grand Knight at
the Knights of Columbus Council 8872
in Colbert, Washington. I serve on
the ISA Board of Directors, and I vol-
unteer at the Inland Empire Railroad
Museum in Reardan, Washington.
We cross-country ski right out of the
garage. We can enjoy a glass or two of
wine on our deck high on Mt. Spokane
and watch thunderstorms 75 miles (121
km) away. We travel more frequently
as well but just day and overnight trips,
since we have llamas and alpacas. I like
to build and remodel things; currently,
a new garage addition and a first-floor
master bedroom and bathroom are high
on the list. Oh, and most important, I can
sleep in until 7 or 8 a.m. No more hitting
the alarm clock at 4 or 5 in the morning!
—Chris Boza
"Trains and trees—what could
be a better combination?"
26 CityTREES
