INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 29 — General Chairman Gary D. Best was reelected by acclamation to a second term of office at the quadrennial meeting of the CSX Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment held in Abbeville, S.C., April 24-26, 2016.
A CSX locomotive engineer, Brother Best was elevated to the General Chairman’s office in September of 2013 following the retirement of former General Chairman Tony Smith. Brother Best has held continuous membership in BLET Division 498 (Abbeville, S.C.) since January 1, 1995.
All officers of the GCA were elected by acclamation: Vice General Chairman Christopher R. Hyde, Division 314 (Rocky Mount, N.C.); 1st Vice General Chairman Jamie L. Truesdale, Division 598 (Greenville, S.C.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Troy L. Bryant, Division 532 (Richmond, Va.); 3rd Vice General Chairman Roger W. Bickerstaff, Division 684 (Birmingham, Ala.); Secretary-Treasurer Frankie P. Milford, Division 498 (Abbeville, S.C.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Robert W. Clark, Division 779 (Manchester, Ga.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting was: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; and National Vice President Gil L. Gore.
“I am proud to offer my congratulations and thanks to Brother Gary Best and all officers of the CSX Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment,” President Pierce said. “I have every confidence they will continue doing an excellent job of enforcing our contract and protecting the rights of our Brothers and Sisters at CSX.”
Special guests at the meeting included retired BLET National President Paul T. Sorrow and retired CSX-Eastern Lines General Chairman Tony Smith. Only four men have served as General Chairman of the CSX Eastern Lines GCA since it was founded in 1967: M.L. Geiger, 1967-1985; Paul T. Sorrow, 1985-1991; Tony Smith, 1991-2013; and Gary D. Best, 2013 to present.
In addition to the election of officers, the delegates to the quadrennial session addressed key concerns of the membership and conducted business for the good of the order.
The CSX Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment represents approximately 1,300 members from 19 different BLET Divisions. They work primarily in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.