Convention

Briggs Re-elected to Third Term

The Texas State Legislative Board held its 13th Quadrennial Convention on April 5-6 in Austin, Texas. Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Briggs of BLET Division 530 (Commerce, Texas) was re-elected to his third full term, after being elevated to the position in 2001.

Also re-elected at the meeting was Catarino Garcia of Division 566 (Del Rio, Texas) as First Vice Chairman. Elected during the meeting were Gary Pedigo (Division 177, Denison) as Second Vice Chairman; Scott Piekarski (Division 187, Fort Worth) as Secretary-Treasurer; Ben Wright (Division 189, Fort Worth) as Alternate Second Vice Chairman; Jeromie Jones (Division 591, Delhart) as Alternate Secretary-Treasurer; and Ben Strot (Division 206, Temple), Luis Martinez (Division 22, El Paso) and Juan Garza (Division 244, Laredo) to the Audit Committee.

“In the next four years, I will work hard to inspire our younger members to take an ever more active role in preparation for the day that they will become the leaders of our great Brotherhood,” Chairman Briggs said. “I would also like to thank James Ussery and Tom Keith for their long service to the board, and hope that the newly elected members can serve the board as admirably as they did.”

National President Dennis Pierce attended the meeting, along with First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt, National Secretary-Treasurer William Walpert, and Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman. President Pierce and the other National Division officers spoke to the group about developments at the National Division and the continuing war on the middle class in this country.

“I would like to congratulate Terry on his re-election,” President Pierce said. “He and the rest of the members of the board serve the state of Texas admirably, and I look forward to continuing to work with all of them into the future.”

Also attending the meeting were Terry Todd, Arkansas State Legislative Board Chairman; Arlin Todd, Louisiana State Legislative Board Chairman; Don Douglass, Oklahoma State Legislative Board Chairman; Warren Dent, General Chairman UP Southern Region; Bill Hannah, General Chairman UP Western Lines; Jim Bradford, BLET Special Representative; Ken Kroeger, BLET Coordinator of Education & Training; Sereena Hogan, BLET Auxiliary Vice President & National Legislative Representative; and Mark Robb, Brotherhoods Relief and Compensation Fund.

As part of the Board’s meeting, the 36 delegates, their family members and several guests attended a rally at the Texas State Capitol in Austin to support public employees and a balanced approach to solving the budget shortfall in that state. The rally drew an estimated 6,000 people from across the state.

12th Quadrennail Convention

Terry Briggs Re-elected State Chairman

Thirty-four duly elected delegates and two duly appointed delegates from all across the state of Texas gathered in Austin on April 24th and 25th, 2007 to elect officers to the Texas State Legislative Board at the TSLB 12th Quadrennial Convention. Brother J. R. Dubois began the convention with an invocation.

By a vote of 18-16, Terry Briggs defeated E. L. Schneider of Division 192 in El Paso to remain in office for his second full term as State Chairman. Catarino Garcia also returns as 1st Vice Chairman by beating out Herb Yambra of Division 194 in Houston, with a vote of 18-16.

Brother James Ussery of Division 834 in Mineola, remains the Secretary/Treasurer by acclamation, as no one ran against him for the position.

New members of the Board include Tom Keith, 2nd Vice Chairman replacing Herb Yambra of Division 194 in Houston. Brother Keith gained the victory over Carl Dowell of BNSF Division 871 in Slaton by a vote of 19-15. In the position of Alternate 2nd Vice Chairman, Tony Brown of Division 857 in Tyler won out over Eddie Pahl of Division 530 in Fort Worth by a vote of 24-10. The office of Alternate Secretary Treasurer went to Jerry Bullard of Division 212 of Big Springs by a vote of 24-10.

Three new Audit Committee members were elected to serve for the next four years. Brothers Chris Woods, Division 22 in El Paso, Tony Brown, Division 857 in Tyler and Dan Stanfield, Division 197 in San Antonio.

National President Don Hahs, Vice President Ed Rodzwicz and National Legislative Representative John Tolman each addressed the delegates on matters of National Agreements, Legislative Issues, Profit Sharing, Testimonies on Capitol Hill, and the Rail Security Act of 2007.

(The photographer apologizes for the quality of some of the photos. Gremlins overtook the lens in some shots.)