INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 7 — Mark L. Wallace was reelected by acclamation to his second term as General Chairman of the Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at its quadrennial meeting in Asheville, N.C., May 23-26, 2016.
Brother Wallace is a member of BLET Division 267 (Asheville, N.C.) and has held continuous membership in the Brotherhood since February 26, 1997. He was first elected General Chairman by acclamation at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in 2012.
Also elected by acclamation were: 1st Vice General Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer Jerry G. Sturdivant, Division 110 (Ludlow, Ky.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Fred Cox, Division 52 (Baltimore, Md.); 3rd Vice General Chairman Ty R. Thompson, Division 423 (Tuscumbia, Ala.); and 4th Vice General Chairman C. R. (Rusty) Jones, Division 239 (Knoxville, Tenn.). Also elected were: 5th Vice General Chairman G. S. (Scott) Brown, Division 259 (Easton, Pa.); and Alternate Vice General Chairman Sean P. Simon, Division 226 (Newark, N.J.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno; Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; and National Vice President R. C. (Rick) Gibbons.
“Congratulations to General Chairman Wallace and all officers of the Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines General Committee of Adjustment, and thank you for your service to our Brotherhood,” President Pierce said. “I have every confidence they will continue providing excellent representation to our proud Brothers and Sisters who work for Norfolk Southern.”
Special guests included: NS-Eastern Lines General Chairman L. R. (Randy) Fannon; Paul L. Wingo Jr., retired National Vice President; and R. H. (Bob) Linsey, retired NS-Northern Lines General Chairman.
Brother Wallace follows in the footsteps of his father, Ray C. Wallace, who served the GCA as General Chairman from 1986-2008. Immediately prior to his election as General Chairman in 2012, Brother Wallace served the General Committee as 2nd Vice Chairman. He has also served as Local Chairman and Vice Local Chairman of Division 267. In 2014, Brother Wallace was elected by acclamation to serve the National Division as Trustee.
Forty-four delegates representing 45 BLET Divisions were in attendance. The Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines GCA represents nearly 3,200 active locomotive engineers and trainmen.