INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, December 28 — Brother Terry L. Todd was reelected by acclamation to his sixth term as Arkansas State Legislative Board Chairman at the Board’s triennial meeting in North Little Rock, Ark., December 5-7, 2016.
A Union Pacific locomotive engineer, Brother Todd is a member of BLET Division 585 (North Little Rock, Ark.). He hired out as a brakeman for the Missouri Pacific at Monore, La., in June of 1977. He quickly earned promotion to locomotive engineer and joined the BLET on September 1, 1978. He has held continuous membership ever since.
All officers of the Board were elected by acclamation, including: 1st Vice Chairman D.W. (Wayne) Denson, Division 182 (North Little Rock, Ark.); 2nd Vice Chairman Jason W. Roath, Division 524 (Van Buren, Ark.); Secretary-Treasurer Earles Carpenter, Division 858 (Pine Bluff, Ark.); and Chaplain Court L. Middleton, Division 116 (Batesville, Ark.). Members of the Audit Committee were also elected by acclamation: R.A. (Adam) Saunders, Division 278 (North Little Rock, Ark.); Court L. Middleton, Division 116 (Batesville, Ark.); and D.W. (Wayne) Denson, Division 182 (North Little Rock, Ark.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; and Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman.
“I am proud to congratulation Brother Terry Todd and all officers of the Arkansas State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “Brother Terry’s years of service provide great stability and strong veteran leadership for our members in Arkansas. I thank him and all officers for their service to the Brotherhood.”
Vincent G. Verna, the Director of Regulatory Affairs, and Robert F. Hagan, the Director of Political and Legislative Affairs, of the BLET’s National Legislative Office were also at the meeting. Additional special guests included General Chairman Ronnie E. Rhodes (Union Pacific-Central Region General Committee of Adjustment) and Arlin S. Todd, Louisiana State Legislative Board Chairman. Robert H. Lindsey, a retired member of Division 858 (Pine Bluff, Ark.), was also in attendance.
Brother Todd is President of Division 585, and has served as its Legislative Representative since 1996. He also served as a National Division Representative on the Rail Safety Advisory Committee’s (RSAC) working group for Hours of Service. Brother Todd served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Arkansas State Legislative Board from 1997-2002. He is a former 1st Vice Chairman of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) and former Chairman of NASLBC Region 2. Brother Todd has been a member of the Arkansas State AFL-CIO Executive Committee since 2001.
The Arkansas State Legislative Board represents approximately 850 active and retired members from six BLET Divisions.