CLEVELAND, October 10 — Dewayne L. Dehart was elected General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines/Wheeling & Lake Erie General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Cleveland from September 30-October 2, 2013.
Brother Dehart, a Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer, is a member of BLET Division 548 in Peru, Ind. He has held continuous membership in the BLET since February 1, 2001. He was elected 4th Vice General Chairman of the NS-Northern Lines/W&LE GCA in 2009.
Also elected were: 1st Vice General Chairman Robert W. Peters, Division 537 (Fort Wayne, Ind.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Jason S. Shannon, Division 86 (Moberly, Mo.); 3rd Vice General Chairman Lonnie J. Swigert, Division 292 (Beach City, Ohio); 4th Vice General Chairman W. Doug Pope, Division 444 (East St. Louis, Ill.); and Secretary-Treasurer Brian E. Mills, Division 273 (Conneaut, Ohio). Alternate officers elected were: Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Paul L. Forman, Division 548 (Peru, Ind.); 1st Alternate Vice General Chairman Patrick M. Redmond, Division 607 (Cleveland, Ohio); and 2nd Alternate Vice General Chairman Rodney P. Kanous, Division 348 (Elkhart, Ind.).
Three long-serving officers did not seek reelection due to pending retirements — Robert H. Linsey, Jerry S. Elmore and Rodney K. Cutlip.
Outgoing General Chairman Robert H. Linsey, Division 659 (Buffalo, N.Y.), was elected to the office of 1st Vice General Chairman in 2001, 2005 and 2009, and served as General Chairman from January 1, 2005 through September 13, 2005, and again from January 1, 2011 through October 1, 2013. Brother Jerry S. Elmore, Division 120 (Kansas City, Mo.), served the Board as Secretary-Treasurer for many years, most recently winning reelection by acclamation in 2009. Brother Rodney K. Cutlip, Division 385 (Toledo, Ohio), was elected to serve as 2nd Vice General Chairman in 2005 and in 2009.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce addressed the officers and delegates on September 30. Also giving presentations were: First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt, National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert, and Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman.
“I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to Brother Dehart and all officers of the General Committee of Adjustment,” President Pierce said. “I have every confidence they will do an excellent job of enforcing contracts and representing the best interests of their members at Norfolk Southern and the Wheeling & Lake Erie. Also, I’d like to give my congratulations to Bob Linsey, Jerry Elmore and Rodney Cutlip and wish them all the best during their upcoming retirements.”
Also representing the National Division were: Vice President Cole W. Davis; Vice President Richard C. (Rick) Gibbons; and Director of Benefits A. Dan Cook III. Vice President Gibbons is assigned to assist all Norfolk Southern GCAs. Additional BLET officers in attendance were: Kevin S. Peek, Norfolk Southern-Eastern Lines General Chairman; Mark L. Wallace, Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines General Chairman; Chip J. Cole, Indiana & Ohio General Chairman; L. Randy Fannon Jr., NS-Eastern Lines Vice General Chairman; Paul S. Piekarski, Illinois State Legislative Board Chairman; and Timothy R. Hanely, Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman.
Retired National Vice President Stephen D. Speagle also attended the meeting and served as parliamentarian. Brother Speagle served as General Chairman of the NS-Northern Lines GCA for many years.
The Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines/W&LE General Committee of Adjustment represents more than 3,300 active and retired members in 32 different Divisions.