Leyshon reelected UP-Western Region General Chairman

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 18 — Brother Steve A. Leyshon was reelected by acclamation as the General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment during the Committee’s quadrennial meeting held June 15, 2020.

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. General Chairman Leyshon was elected 1st Vice General Chairman of the GCA at quadrennial meetings in 2008 and 2012. He was elected General Chairman at the GCA’s 2016 meeting to succeed outgoing General Chairman Jim L. Dayton, who retired.

Also elected during the quadrennial session were: 1st Vice General Chairman William J. Wallace, Division 362 (La Grande, Ore.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Tim L. Smith Jr., Division 443 (Spokane, Wash.); 3rd Vice General Chairman Matt Keene, Division 416 (Portland, Ore.); 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: Jared Worthington, Division 846 (Salt Lake City, Utah); Steve P. Wells, Division 766 (Las Vegas); and Tim L. Smith Jr., Division 443 (Spokane, Wash.).

BLET National President Dennis Pierce and National Vice President Mark Wallace represented the National Division at the meeting.

“Congratulations to Brother Leyshon and all the officers of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment,” President Pierce said. “Brother Leyshon is one of the hardest-working General Chairmen in the Brotherhood and his unanimous reelection is a testament to the fantastic job he has done for our Union Pacific and Portland & Western membership.”

Special guests included: Retired UP-WR General Chairman Jim Dayton; and Rich Egan and Kevin Potts of Iron Road Healthcare.

Over the years, Brother Leyshon has served Division 766 as Secretary-Treasurer and Local Chairman. He also served on the Arrangements Committee at three BLET National Conventions (2010, 2014 and 2018) and was assigned by President Pierce to represent the BLET on a Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) Working Group. Brother Leyshon currently serves as Vice Chairman and Labor Member of the Board of Trustees at Iron Road Healthcare, and also as President of the Union Pacific General Chairperson Association (UPGCA), which is a coalition of General Chairpersons from all the various craft unions at the Union Pacific Railroad.

There were 17 delegates in attendance. The UP-Western Region GCA represents more than 1,000 active members, including approximately 85 of whom work for the Portland & Western Railroad. The GCA has represented the P&W membership since 2008.

Thursday, June 18, 2020
bentley@ble-t.org