INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 2 — Pat S. Pfeifer was reelected to his third term as Chairman of the Nebraska State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting in Lincoln, Neb., February 24-25, 2020.
A Union Pacific locomotive engineer, Brother Pfeifer is a member of BLET Division 388 (North Platte, Neb.) who first joined the BLET on September 1, 1997. He hired out with the Union Pacific in 1990 and earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1994. Brother Pfeifer has been an active member of the BLET since that time, serving Division 88 as Legislative Representative, Vice Local Chairman and Local Chairman. He has also served as Local Chairman of Division 388. Brother Pfeifer has been an active member of the Nebraska State Legislative Board for more than a decade, having served as 1st Vice Chairman for two terms (2007-2010 and 2010-2013). He was first elected Chairman at the Board’s 2013 triennial meeting, winning reelection by acclamation at the Board’s 2016 meeting.
Also elected were: 1st Vice Chairman Kevin C. Howell, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.); 2nd Vice Chairman Adam E. Housman, Division 621 (Wymore, Neb.); and Secretary-Treasurer Brad A. Gerdts, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.). Elected to serve as Trustees were: Lance D. Flohr, Division 622 (Alliance, Neb.); Sonny R. Fankhauser, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.); and Adam E. Hausman, Division 98 (Lincoln, Neb.). Elected as Executive Board Members were: Travis D. Kuenning, Division 388 (North Platte, Neb.); and G.J. Lupe Gonzales, Division 303 (Morrill, Neb.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; National Vice President Mark L. Wallace; and Director of Regulatory Affairs Vincent G. Verna.
“I congratulate Brother Pfeifer and all officers of the Nebraska State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I thank them for their willingness to serve our Brotherhood, and am confident they will continue to do an excellent job representing the rights and interests of our Brothers and Sisters throughout the proud state of Nebraska.”
Special guests included: Dick Crow, Union Pacific-Northern Region General Chairman; Dave Geisler, Union Pacific-Eastern District General Chairman; and Nick Johnson, Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman and Chairman of the BLET National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC).
The delegates conducted business in a professional and efficient manner, making various changes to their Bylaws. This was the first time the board held a quadrennial meeting, after having met on a triennial basis for many years.
During the meeting, President Pierce presented retirement awards to Brothers Jeff Vogt, Division 98, and Kevin Potthoff, Division 623. He also presented plaques to Brothers Travis Kuenning, Local Chairman of Division 388, and Lance Flohr, Legislative Representative of Division 622. Brother Kuenning and Brother Flohr accepted the awards on behalf of their Divisions for the membership’s outstanding support of the BLET PAC Fund throughout 2019.
The Nebraska State Legislative Board represents approximately 1,200 locomotive engineers and trainmen from eight BLET Divisions.