CLEVELAND, August 5 — Gil Gore was reelected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the Union Pacific-Southern Regional General Committee of Adjustment meetings in New Orleans, La., on July 29 and 30.
This will be Brother Gore’s third term as General Chairman. He has held continuous membership in BLET Division 193 (Gretna, La.). since he joined the Brotherhood on February 1, 1974.
Also elected during the meeting were:
• Dave Phillips, elected by acclamation to a third term as First Vice General Chairman (a member of Division 62, Houston, Texas);
• Gary Perrien, elected by acclamation to a third term as Second Vice General Chairman (Division 193, Gretna, La.);
• Russell Elley, elected by acclamation to a second term as Third Vice General Chairman (Division 197, San Antonio, Texas);
• Warren Dent, Fourth Vice General Chairman (Division 187, Fort Worth, Texas);
• Dan Underwood, First Alternate Vice General Chairman (Division 139, Houston);
• Dana Marlow, Second Alternate Vice General Chairman (Division 179, Parsons, Kan.);
• Jim Rosas, elected by acclamation to the office of General Secretary-Treasurer (Division 62, Houston); and
• Megan Mead, Alternate General Secretary Treasurer (Division 197, San Antonio).
Visiting dignitaries included: BLET National President Ed Rodzwicz; National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert; and National Vice President Lee Pruitt, who all addressed the delegates on issues of national importance.
Designated Legal Counsel Bob Tramuto, Steve Young, Ben Saunders, Gene Napier, Pete McKinney and Joe Bauer participated in a panel discussion with delegates regarding proper injury reporting and other issues pertaining to the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
General Chairman Charlie Rightnowar (Union Pacific-Central Region) addressed the delegates on matters of mutual interest to both Committees.
Mark Robb of BRCF, Leonard Baca of CPA and J.D. Howard of LECMPA gave presentations on their respective job insurance organizations.
Also in attendance were Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Briggs, Louisiana State Legislative Board Chairman Arlen Todd and Arkansas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Todd.
Brother Gore has been a BLET member for the past 34 years. He hired on with Union Pacific on July 26, 1973, and earned promotion to locomotive engineer on December 26, 1973. He began his career of service of the Brotherhood as Local Chairman of Division 193 in 1980 and served as Vice General Chairman from 1986 through 1998. He was elected General Chairman in 2000 for the first time, and was subsequently reelected in 2004 and 2008. He also served as Chairman of the Bylaws Committee at the last two National Conventions (2006 in Las Vegas and 2001 in Miami).
The meetings were held July 29-30 at the Riverfront Wyndham Hotel in Downtown New Orleans, La. The 32 delegates in attendance worked hard and thoroughly enjoyed the bountiful entertainment the beautiful city of New Orleans had to offer.
The Union Pacific-Southern Region GCofA consists of 29 BLET Divisions representing approximately 1,500 members.