LAS VEGAS, June 19 – Brother Eddie Sanchez, a member of BLET Division 134 (Winslow, Ariz.), was killed in a tragic automobile accident over the weekend while driving to represent his members as a delegate to the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention.
Brother Sanchez, 54, was in his second term of office as Local Chairman of Division 134. He was a locomotive engineer on the former Santa Fe lines for the past 33 years and has been a member of the BLET since June 1, 1975.
Mark Banton, Vice General Chairman of the BLET’s BNSF (Santa Fe) General Committee, informed delegates about the tragedy. Brother Sanchez is survived by his wife, four children, and two grandchildren.
A fund has been established to assist the Sanchez family during this tragedy, and delegates have already donated a substantial sum to the fund. BLET members interested in making a donation should make checks payable to the “Eddie Sanchez Memorial Fund” and mail them to:
BLET Santa Fe General Committee
c/o Roland Kleinsorge
5505 N. Jesse Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92407-2517
In addition, Brother Terry Briggs, Chairman of the Texas State Legislative Board, introduced a resolution that honors Brother Sanchez and calls for the creation of a memorial plaque to be given to the Sanchez family. Delegates unanimously passed the resolution.
“He was a good man who will be missed by all who knew him,” Vice Chairman Banton said.