Jasper Paul Driver, Sr. (June 3, 1905 – December 26, 1958) worked as a Pullman porter, and lived with his family near what is now Driver Plaza which was named for him.

Driver was born in Groesbeck, TX in 1905. He married Naomi Nailing (Driver) (February 24, 1914 – July 31, 1978) of Tennessee, and they had 10 children.

  • Emerson Driver (1930 – 1995)
  • Jasper Paul Driver, Jr. (1933 – 1984) - served in the Air Force
  • Melvin Driver (1935 – 2005)
  • Beverly Naomi Driver (b. 1936)
  • James Whitcomb Driver (1937 – 2003) - served in the Air Force
  • Hubert Driver (1941 – 1997) - twin of Herbert; graduated from Oakland Tech in 1960; had muscular dystrophy
  • Herbert Driver (1941 – 2006) - twin of Hubert; graduated from Oakland Tech in 1960
  • Ruth Dolores Driver (1946 – 2001) - graduated from Oakland Tech c.1967; had muscular dystrophy
  • Sharon Lee Driver (b.1948)
  • John Anthony Driver (b.1949)

They lived at 1146 - 12th St.; then 2703 Adeline; then 939 - 46th St. By the 1940 census, they had moved to 888 - 59th Street.

In 1957, Driver was working as a porter on an eastbound Western Pacific train, the California Zephyr. Along the Feather River, the train was hit by a rockslide. Some cars of the train derailed, and there were multiple injuries including Driver. He asked to be relieved because he was also recovering from a recent operation. 1

Jasper P. Driver, Sr. died on December 26, 1958.

Hubert and Ruth, who both had muscular dystrophy, were still living at 888 - 59th St. into the late 1970s.

Links and References

  1. Train Derailed By Canyon Slide Oakland Tribune May 19, 1957 (p2)
  • The Prowler (Dallas E. Wood) Palo Alto Times August 14, 1941 (p2)

Hubert Driver

Edit tags