CLEVELAND, June 24 — Brother Steve A. Leyshon was elected by acclamation as the new General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment during the Committee’s quadrennial meeting held June 20-22, 2016, in Boise, Idaho.
Brother Leyshon is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer and member of Division 766 (Las Vegas, Nevada). He hired out in Las Vegas as a brakeman for the Union Pacific on October 5, 1990, earning promotion to locomotive engineer in September of 1995. He has held continuous membership in Division 766 since August 1, 1995. Brother Leyshon succeeds General Chairman Jim L. Dayton, who is retiring.
Also elected during the quadrennial session were: 1st Vice General Chairman William J. Wallace, Division 362 (La Grande, Ore.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Ray W. Letcher, Division 349 (Salt Lake City, Utah); 3rd Vice General Chairman Tim L. Smith Jr., Division 443 (Spokane, Wash.); Secretary-Treasurer Tom M. Preston, Division 236 (Portland, Ore.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Chad A. Holub, Division 766 (Las Vegas, Nevada). All were elected or reelected by acclamation.
Appointed to the Audit Committee were: Tim L. Smith Jr., Division 443 (Spokane, Wash.); Steve P. Wells, Division 766 (Las Vegas); and Jim L. Knudtson, Division 222 (Salt Lake City, Utah).
National Vice President Mike D. Twombly represented the National Division at the meeting.
“I offer my congratulations to Brother Steve Leyshon and all officers of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said. “I thank them for their dedication to our Brotherhood and I have every confidence they will do an excellent job of representing our Brothers and Sisters who work for the UP. I also thank retiring General Chairman Jim Dayton for his many years of dedicated service to our Brotherhood and I extend best wishes for a long, happy and healthy retirement. You have definitely earned it, Brother.”
Special guests included: UP-Western Lines General Chairman Bill Hannah; UP-Eastern District General Chairman Dave Geisler; UP-Southern Region General Chairman Warren Dent; and retired UP-Western Region General Chairman Tim Donnigan.
The delegates honored retiring General Chairman Jim Dayton with several gifts and a heartfelt thank you for his years of devoted service to the Brotherhood. Brother Dayton was elected General Chairman in June of 2008. A member of BLET Division 236 (Portland, Ore.), Brother Dayton hired out with the Union Pacific in April of 1976 as a bridge and building carpenter. He transferred to engine service as a fireman in April of 1977 and joined Division 236 in November of 1977.
Brother Dayton has served the Brotherhood in many capacities over the years, including Local Chairman of Division 236, General Chairman of the former Union Pacific Oregon Division (1980-1987), BLE International Vice-President (1987-1991), and Vice General Chairman-at-Large and Second Vice-Chairman of UP–WR GCA (1991-2000). Brother Dayton also served as a regional mobilization coordinator for the BLE International from 1991 to 2000, and he twice served as Chairman of the Bylaws Committee during the BLET’s Second National Convention in Reno, Nevada, in 2010, and then the Third National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2014.
General Chairman Leyshon was elected 1st Vice General Chairman of the GCA at quadrennial meetings in 2008 and 2012. Prior to that, he served Division 766 as Secretary-Treasurer and Local Chairman. He also served on the Arrangements Committee at two BLET National Conventions and was assigned by President Pierce to represent the BLET on a Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) Working Group.
There were 19 delegates in attendance representing approximately 1,000 members from the states of Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Utah.