INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 20 — David A. Spradlin was elected by acclamation as General Chairman during the Kansas City Southern General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting in Bossier City, La., June 13-17, 2016.
Brother Spradlin takes the reins from former General Chairman Sam W. Parker, who has retired with 20 years of service as General Chairman. A member of BLET Division 573 (Greenville, Texas), Brother Spradlin has held continuous membership since he first joined the BLET on April 1, 1998. He hired out in 1994 as a conductor with KCS at Shreveport, La., earning promotion to locomotive engineer in July 1995 out of Greenville, Texas. Brother Spradlin has served Division 573 as Secretary-Treasurer from 2000-2007 and as Local Chairman from 2005-2016. He has served the GCA as Secretary-Treasurer for the past eight years, winning elections at quadrennial meetings in 2008 and 2012.
Also elected by acclamation during the 2016 meeting were: 1st Vice General Chairman James O. Fisher Jr., Division 612 (Nederland, Texas); 2nd Vice General Chairman David M. Grubbs Jr., Division 569 (Heavener, Okla.); Secretary-Treasurer Gregory E. Jones, Division 632 (Minden, La.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Jeffery A. Bullington, Division 527 (Pittsburg, Kan.).
Three Trustees were also elected by acclamation: James O. Fisher Jr., Division 612 (Nederland, Texas); David M. Grubbs Jr., Division 569 (Heavener, Okla.); and Justin W. Curl, Division 527 (Pittsburg, Kan.).
Officers representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; and National Vice President Cole W. Davis.
“I congratulate and thank Brother Spradlin and all officers of the Kansas City Southern General Committee of Adjustment for their service to our Brotherhood,” President Pierce said. “I also wish to congratulate Brother Sam Parker on a well-deserved retirement and thank him for his many years of service to our Kansas City Southern membership.”
Brother Douglas W. Davidson, Director of the BLET Arbitration Department, and Brother Jason C. Wright, Special Representative and Director of the BLET Education and Training Department, were also in attendance and conducted a training session for delegates. Additional special guests included Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Gary R. Pedigo and Louisiana State Legislative Board Chairman Arlin S. Todd.
Brother Parker retires with 20 years of service as General Chairman of the KCS General Committee of Adjustment. He has nearly 37 years of continuous membership in BLET Division 599 (Shreveport, La.), first joining the Brotherhood on July 1, 1979. President Pierce presented Brother Parker with a commemorative brass bell on behalf of the General Committee in recognition of his years of service to the Brotherhood.
The BLET’s Kansas City Southern General Committee of Adjustment represents seven BLET Divisions and approximately 550 active and retired members.