Maurice Graham, 89; `King of the Hobos' began his rambling as a teenager riding the rails From Times Staff and Wire Reports November 22, 2006
Maurice Graham, who began hitching rides on trains as a teenager and was known as the "King of the Hobos," died Saturday at a nursing home in Napoleon, Ohio, his family said. He was 89 and had recently suffered a stroke.
Nicknamed "Steam Train Maury," Graham was a founding member of the National Hobo Foundation and helped establish the Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa.
"What gets you hooked is the outdoors," Graham told a Times reporter in 1989. "A hobo is just a guy who went camping and never came home."
In 1990, Graham wrote "Tales of the Iron Road: My Life as King of the Hobos," telling his stories of hopping trains beginning at age 14 and living in hobo camps from the late 1960s until 1980.
"It used to be that a hobo had to be a good naturalist — he had to know all the roots, berries, grasses and weeds that are edible, and how to catch small game without weapons and how to be a good fisherman," Graham said in 1983, describing how the ramblers' carefree world had changed.
"But to survive as a hobo today, you practically have to be a pharmacist," Graham said. "They're hauling things in freight trains, like chemicals and pesticides, that weren't even invented five years ago."
Graham also made a distinction between hobos, who did odd jobs to support their vagabond lifestyle, and tramps and bums, who he said were only looking for handouts.
Graham was named National Hobo King five times at the annual hobo convention in Britt and was crowned Grand Patriarch of Hobos in 2004.
Graham, a Santa Claus look-alike with a flowing, white beard, was "a true hobo hero," foundation President Linda Hughes said.
"He was a classy and respected man," she said. "No one can live up to Steam Train. He's irreplaceable."
When he wasn't riding the rails, Graham spent most of his settled-down life in Toledo, Ohio, working as a cement mason.
A native of Atchison, Kan., he was a medical technician during World War II.
His survivors include his wife of 69 years, Wanda, and two daughters.
A service will be held today in Toledo for Graham, who has caught the westbound train, as hobos say of their departed friends.
"Steam Train" Maury Graham Dies at 89 -- Elected King of the Hobos 5 Times
Nov 21, 2006 06:52 PM "Steam Train" in 1994 at a charity event where he doubled as Santa Claus. Notice his ever-present walking stick. "Steam Train" in 1994 at a charity event where he doubled as Santa Claus. Notice his ever-present walking stick.
TOLEDO -- Maury Graham -- an activist who helped many people in our area over the years -- passed away Saturday evening. People knew him as "Steam Train." We're told he suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago and slipped into a coma. "Steam Train" died in Napoleon. He was 89.
When his book -- "Tales of the Iron Road: My Life As King of the Hobos" -- was released, Publishers Weekly wrote: "Starting in 1931 at age 14, Graham rode the rails until 1980. From a broken home, shunted from father to mother to aunt to married siblings, he found the family he had missed as a child in hobo camps across the country."
Graham stressed that he was a hobo, not a bum or a wino. He said that's a distinction sometimes lost on the public.
News 11 spoke Sunday with a longtime friend of the self-proclaimed hobo, to look back on the unique life "Steam Train" lived. Larry Latimore, also known as "Hippie Hobo," told us "Steam Train" was well-known throughout the hobo community, where he was affectionately called "King of the Hobos."
Latimore said, "You'll never meet a person like him again. When you have a friend like him and he leaves, it leaves a big void in your life."
According to Latimore, "Steam Train" didn't just pass away -- he "took the Westbound." As he explains it, "When a hobo catches the Westbound, he's not done at the end of the funeral service. His spirit goes off into the sunset, and you try to continue with his beliefs and philosphies."
Latimore was appointed the engineer for the Hobo Westbound by "Steam Train" over 12 years ago. Now he'll use the title as he carries on the tradition that defined Graham's life.
"The Hobo Westbound is a mythical thing," he says. "It's only amongst the hobos and people who know about their lore, but now you guys know about it -- so, to a degree, I've helped the hobos now."
Now that "Steam Train" has climbed aboard the Westbound one last time, his friends take comfort in knowing that the legacy of his life will continue to pick up steam.
Funeral services for "Steam Train" Maury Graham are to be held at Walter Funeral Home on Glendale Avenue in Toledo. Visitation is Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a funeral srvice set for Wednesday morning at 10:30.