Frank H. Heppner

Frank Heppner (1940- ) retired in 2010 after 40 years of teaching (mostly large) biology classes at the University of Rhode Island. During this time, he had more than 25,000 students. Very few are currently incarcerated, but many have achieved varying degrees of wild success, including National Geographic writers, presidents of giant companies, scientists, physicians, public officials, ad infinitum.

Retirement seems to be pretty much like his former job; he teaches, writes, does research, and community service. The only differences are that he doesn't get paid, and his office is in the basement of his house.

He also is able now to spend a bit more time building ship and train models. Several of his completed jobs are in museums, including the American Museum of Natural History. Two of his models are in the library of the Graduate School of Oceanography of the University of Rhode Island, HMS Challenger, and Captain Cook's Endeavour.

He's an active railfan, and has traveled more than 500,000 miles by train. He published a book in 2012 called "Railroads of Rhode Island," and in 2019 published "The Seventy Year Train Ride: 500,000 Miles by Rail," an illustrated book also available on Amazon. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Kingston Station organization.

Although not a fan of Facebook, he set up a Facebook page for "Railroads of Rhode Island." Simply go to Facebook, and search "Railroads of Rhode Island." The site will attempt to be amusing and provocative--or at least as provocative as a book entitled "Railroads of Rhode Island" can be.