CLEVELAND, May 5 — The BLET’s Texas State Legislative Board held its 14th quadrennial convention on April 19-21 in Austin, Texas. In attendance were delegates representing 38 of the 41 Local Divisions in Texas. Brother Gary R. Pedigo, BLET Division 177 (Denison, Texas), was elected by acclamation to the office of Chairman. Incumbent Chairman Terry D. Briggs, Division 530 (Commerce, Texas), did not seek reelection and will retire effective June 2, 2015.
Brother Pedigo was elected Second Vice Chairman at the Texas State Legislative Board’s 13th quadrennial convention in 2011. He also currently serves as Local Chairman and Legislative Representative of Division 177. A Union Pacific locomotive engineer, Brother Pedigo has held continuous membership in the BLET since January 1, 1979. According to the Texas SLB Bylaws, terms of office for all newly elected officers begin on June 1.
Elected by acclamation to serve as First Vice Chairman was Benjamin L. Wright, Division 189 (Fort Worth, Texas). Reelected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer was Scott J. Piekarski, Division 620 (Fort Worth, Texas). Also elected were: Second Vice Chairman Catarino A. Garcia, Division 566 (Del Rio, Texas); Alternate Second Vice Chairman Larry J. Williams, Division 944 (Dallas, Texas); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Warren D. Stevens, Division 197 (San Antonio, Texas). Elected to serve on the audit committee were: Allen C. Allee, Division 703 (Teague, Texas); Larry M. Yaws, Division 574 (Amarillo, Texas); and Tommy L. Johnson, Division 871 (Slaton, Texas).
Representing the National Division at the quadrennial meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno; Vice President & National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; Vice President Michael D. Twombly; Vice President Cole W. Davis; and Vice President Michael D. Priester. Vice Presidents Twombly, Davis and Priester are assigned to the various properties operating in Texas. The General Chairman from each General Committee of Adjustment representing one or more Local Divisions in the state of Texas also attended.
“I offer my congratulations to Brother Pedigo and I know that he and all officers of the Texas State Legislative Board will do a fine job of representing the best interests of our members in the proud state of Texas,” President Pierce said. “I also express my deepest thanks to Brother Terry Briggs for his years of selfless service to the Brotherhood and its members as a Division officer, a Convention Delegate, and as a State Legislative Board Chairman. On behalf of the BLET, I wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.”
Brother Briggs announced his retirement following a railroad career that spanned over 44 years. He hired out on the Rock Island in Shawnee, Okla., on April 11, 1971, and first joined the Brotherhood on March 1, 1973. He was elevated to the office of Chairman of the Texas State Legislative Board in 2001, following the election of former Chairman Raymond Holmes to the office of BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative. Brother Briggs was reelected to the Texas State Legislative Board Chairman’s office in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He was also active with the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) for many years.
Established in 1889, the Texas State Legislative Board represents 41 divisions and more than 3,500 active BLET members.