CLEVELAND, August 18 — The BLET’s Grand Trunk Western (GTW) General Committee reelected General Chairman John Karakian by acclamation for a sixth consecutive four-year term at their quadrennial meeting in Novi, Mich., on August 17.
Brother Karakian, a member of BLET Division 812 (Detroit), first joined the Brotherhood on June 1, 1977. He began serving as GTW General Chairman in 1992, when he replaced outgoing GC Paul Hicks.
Also reelected by acclamation for his sixth straight term was Vice General Chairman Marty J. Tyler of Division 650 (Durand, Mich.). Brother Tom Greenman of Division 33 (Battle Creek, Mich.) was reelected by acclamation as Secretary-Treasurer; and Michael Negus of BLET Division 650 (Durand, Mich.) was elected by acclamation to serve as alternate Secretary-Treasurer.
Representatives from the BLET National Division included: National President Dennis R. Pierce; National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert; Vice President & National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; National Vice President Willard E. Knight; and Director of Benefits A. Dan Cook. Greg Powell, Chairman of the Michigan State Legislative Board, was also in attendance.
“As evidenced by his sixth straight term of office by acclamation, Brother Karakian is a hard working and tenacious General Chairman,” President Pierce said. “I thank him and his delegates for their efforts on behalf of the Brotherhood and offer my congratulations to Brother Karakian and all officers of the Grand Trunk Western GCA.”
BLET National President Emeritus Paul T. Sorrow, who has a long-standing association with the GTW General Committee spanning nearly 20 years, was also in attendance as an honored guest.
“I thank all the National Division officers for attending,” General Chairman Karakian said. “It was a huge honor for our General Committee. And I especially thank Paul Sorrow. It was great having two Presidents at our meeting — President Emeritus Sorrow and National President Pierce.”
The BLET’s Grand Trunk members are proud of the significant role their forefathers played in the founding of our Brotherhood more than 147 years ago. A Grand Trunk locomotive engineer, B. Northrup, was one of the 19 original delegates who met for four days beginning on May 5, 1863, to form the original Brotherhood of the Footboard.
The GTW GCA represents 250 locomotive engineers who operate over approximately 700 miles of track predominately in Michigan. The GTW’s main corridor is from Port Huron, Mich., to Chicago, but also has operations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and the province of Ontario, Canada.