INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 15 — Clay E. Craddock was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Canadian National-Illinois Central (CN-IC) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Tunica, Miss., June 6-8, 2016.
A member of BLET Division 762 (Memphis, Tenn.), Brother Craddock has held continuous membership in the BLET since October 1, 1980. He was elected to his first term as General Chairman in 2012, and prior to that was elected Second Vice General Chairman in 2008. He has served his Division in various positions over the past 36 years. Brother Craddock has more than 40 years of engine service, earning promotion to locomotive engineer for the Illinois Central in Jackson, Tenn., on April 22, 1976.
Also elected were: 1st Vice Chairman W. D. (Billy) Evans, Division 203 (Jackson, Miss.); 2nd Vice Chairman Lanie M. Keith, Division 593 (Meridian, Miss.); 3rd Vice Chairman Tom P. Bloom, Division 114 (Waterloo, Iowa); 4th Vice Chairman W. P. (Patrick) Randolph, Division 512 (Belleville, Ill.); and Secretary-Treasurer C. R. (Charlie) Lough Jr., Division 131 (Chicago). Brother Lough was reelected by acclamation.
Alternate officers elected were: 1st Alternate Chairman William J. Clayton, Division 315 (Clinton, Ill.); 2nd Alternate Vice Chairman T. R. (Tiger) Mobley, Division 914 (Baton Rouge, La.); 3rd Alternate Vice Chairman Roger D. Carlson, Division 508 (Fulton, Ky.); 4th Alternate Vice Chairman Alan I. Douglas, Division 762 (Memphis, Tenn.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Steve E. Lott, Division 326 (Bossier City, La.).
Three Trustees were elected to serve the GCA: W. P. (Patrick) Randolph, Division 512 (Belleville, Ill.); T. D. (Ted) Williams, Division 602 (Champaign, Ill.); and Lanie M. Keith, Division 593 (Meridian, Miss.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; National Vice President Marcus J. Ruef; and National Vice President Cole W. Davis.
“I congratulate and thank these Brothers for their commitment to serve our Brotherhood,” President Pierce said. “Under the veteran leadership of Brother Clay Craddock, I know they will do an excellent job of protecting the rights of our CN-IC Brothers and Sisters.”
Special guests included: Arlin S. Todd, Louisiana State Legislative Board Chairman; and James L. McCoy, retired BLE First Vice President and former Illinois Central General Chairman.
Brother Craddock reports that he was a fireman for locomotive engineer and Brother McCoy in the mid- to late-1970s, and that McCoy was a big reason why he joined the Brotherhood.
“I owe a lot to Jim McCoy,” Craddock said. “He was a good mentor and he taught me a lot about railroading and about our Organization.”
Brother Craddock is a third generation Illinois Central railroader, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, William C. Craddock, and father, Henry L. (Buddy) Craddock. His father hired out in 1944 and for a time served as the Illinois Central General Chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen (BLF&E) in the 1960s-70s. Still sharp as a tack at age 88, Buddy Craddock has been retired for 30 years and still helps his son with union business. “He is a wealth of knowledge,” Brother Craddock said.
In addition to the election of officers, the delegates conducted business in a timely and professional manner. The GCA also honored retiring Office Administrator Karen Brasfield, who retired June 1, 2016, after 30 years of dedicated service to the CN-IC GCA.
The General Committee represents about 860 active and retired members from 19 different Divisions. The GCA represents multiple railroads, including CN properties (Illinois Central, Chicago Central & Pacific, Cedar River Railway), Kansas City Southern properties (MidSouth Rail Corp., SouthRail Corp, Gateway & Western), Illinois & Midland Railroad and the IC Electric Division of Metra in Chicago.