The BLET Advisory Board met on December 6 at the National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. National Vice President Alan Holdcraft will be retiring at the end of this month. Alternate Vice President James Logan will fill the vacancy on the Advisory Board and become the BLET’s newest Vice President effective January 1, 2025.
Happy Trails, Brother Holdcraft
Brother Holdcraft’s railroad career began on June 1, 1977. He has held continuous membership in Division 776 (Galveston, Texas) since February 1, 1980. Brother Holdcraft served as General Chairman of the BNSF-ATSF General Committee of Adjustment from 2012-2018. He served two terms as National Vice President, winning elections in 2018 and 2022. Click here to read more about his service to the Brotherhood.
Reflecting on his career, Brother Holdcraft said: “It has been an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the members of this great Organization for the last 22 years. Over the years, I was fortunate enough to work with some of the most knowledgeable and skilled advocates in the Brotherhood. I want to thank former President Dennis Pierce, former VPs Marcus Ruef, Gil Gore, Cole Davis and Michael Priester (to name a few) for their time and patience. They were my teachers and critics and for that, I am eternally grateful. Finally, for those of you who are considering leadership positions in this Organization, I urge you to get involved now. As former President Pierce often said, ‘Union membership is not a spectator sport.’ Find opportunities to connect with the current leaders and, most importantly, begin your education. I leave you with this quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’”
Speaking on behalf of the union, BLET National President Eddie Hall said: “I thank Brother Holdcraft for his many years of dedicated service to our Brotherhood, and extended best wishes for a long, happy, and healthy retirement.”
Welcome, Brother Logan
Brother James Logan’s railroad career began in 1995 when he hired out with the UP in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1998 and joined the BLET as a member of Division 620 (Fort Worth, Texas) in 1999. He served his Division for nine years as Local Chairman (2009-2018). Immediately prior to his elevation to the Advisory Board, Brother Logan served as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Southern Region (UP-SR) General Committee of Adjustment, which represents nearly 3,000 active and retired members. He was elected twice to the General Chairman’s office (2020 and 2024). Learn more about Brother Logan here. Current UP-SR GCA 1st Vice Chairman Scott Alexander, BLET Division 523 (Chickasha, Okla.), will assume the office of General Chairman effective January 1, 2025.
“I am pleased to welcome Brother Logan and have every confidence that he will be a valuable contributor to the Advisory Board,” President Hall said. “I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”
