CLEVELAND, July 3 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced the retirement of two valued members of the National Division Staff — Jim Bradford, Special Representative and Ken Kroeger, Special Representative and Coordinator of Education and Training.
Brother Bradford, a member of BLET Division 566 (De Rio, Texas), has railroad experience that dates back 51 years. He began his railroad career in 1962 on the Cotton Belt Railroad as a part-time Maintenance of Way worker while he was in school. After spending time in the military and graduating from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971, he began working full time for the railroad. He went firing for the Southern Pacific in 1973 and earned promotion to Locomotive Engineer in 1974. He first joined the Brotherhood in 1973. Brother Bradford was hired by then-BLE International President John F. Sytsma as a part-time Special Representative in 1978, and then on a full-time basis in 1980. In addition to his Special Representative duties, Brother Bradford also played a key role in the establishment and day to day administration of the BLET’s Short Term Disability Trust Plan.
President Pierce announced that Sister Megan Mead has been hired as the BLET’s new Special Representative. Sister Mead will also take over the day to day administration of the Short Term Disability Trust Plan effective July 1, 2013. Sister Mead is the first female Special Representative in the Organization’s 150-year history. A member of BLET Division 197 (San Antonio, Texas), she served in the military before hiring out on the Union Pacific and had served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Pacific-Southern Region General Committee of Adjustment immediately prior to her July 1 appointment.
Also retiring is Ken Kroeger, Special Representative and Coordinator of Education and Training. A member of BLET Division 28 (Tucson, Ariz.), Brother Kroeger began his railroad career when he hired out as an Engineer Trainee for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1973. He was promoted to Locomotive Engineer in 1974 and joined the Brotherhood in November of 1976. In 1990, he was elected Vice Local Chairman of Division 28, and in January 1995, he was elected to the position of Local Chairman. During his tenure as Local Chairman, Kroeger became a founding member of the BLET National Mobilization Program.
Brother Kroeger was hired as a Special Representative for the Brotherhood’s Western Region in April of 1999. In August of 2000, he attended a National Transportation Safety Board Training Class in Washington, D.C. and became a Primary Investigator with the union’s Safety Task Force. In addition to his Special Representative position, Brother Kroeger was appointed Coordinator of Education and Training in September of 2001. He currently is in charge of organizing and conducting training seminars for Local Chairmen and Secretary-Treasurers at various locations throughout the United States, including at all four BLET regional meetings each year.
President Pierce announced that Brother Jason C. Wright has been hired as the BLET’s new Special Representative and Coordinator of Education and Training. A BNSF engineer and member of BLET Division 502 (Kansas City, Mo.), Brother Wright served as 1st Alternate Vice Chairman of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former SL-SF)/MNA General Committee of Adjustment. President Pierce also announced that Brother Kevin Sexton, a Long Island Railroad Engineer and member of Division 269, and Brother Matt Kronyak, a CSX Engineer and member of Division 235, have been appointed to serve as temporary Special Representatives.
In addition to Brother Bradford and Brother Kroeger, National Vice President Willard E. Knight retired effective June 30. A retirement party in honor of all three men was held in Cleveland on June 11, with more than 100 in attendance.
“It was a bittersweet farewell on June 11 for Brother Knight, Brother Bradford and Brother Kroeger,” President Pierce said. “The National Division will lose 135 years of experience between these three Brothers. At the same time, they have worked so hard for so many years and I am happy they will be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor during retirement. On behalf of the Advisory Board and the entire Organization, I thank all three men for their dedication to the Brotherhood.”
President Pierce also welcomed all of the new additions to the National Division staff.
“I am excited to add Megan, Jason, Kevin and Matt to our National Division staff,” he said. “We have put a lot on their shoulders and have asked them to hit the ground running. I have every confidence they are up to the challenge and am proud to welcome them aboard.”