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Story
August 10, 1953
Trainman News
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
Guy L. Brown, 59, elected grand chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in Cleveland after acting in the role post-Shields' death. Other officers elected; Brown's rail career since 1909 detailed, including baseball sideline. Convention tackles wage improvements.
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Guy L. Brown
Named Chief
By Engineers
CLEVELAND -- Guy L. Brown, 59, who had been acting grand chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers since the death of Grand Chief Engineer James P. Shields on the eve of the BLE's 12th triennial convention here, last week was elected grand chief engineer.
Others who had been elected by the BLE delegates, at press-time, included Roy E. Davidson, first assistant grand chief engineer, and Larry V. Byrnes, assistant grand chief engineer and national legislative representative.
Unanimously reelected were H. C. Hobart, assistant grand chief engineer, now on leave of absence serving as assistant secretary of labor, and J. B. Ward, assistant grand chief engineer and Dominion legislative representative. Also reelected assistant grand chief engineers were T. J. Harkins and C. B. Gwinn.
"Congratulations upon your election to the exalted and important position of grand chief engineer. On behalf of all the officers and members of our Brotherhood, I extend to you best wishes for a most successful administration,"
President W. P. Kennedy wired Brown.
He also extended congratulations to the other officers named by the BLE delegates.
Brown, a native of Boone, Iowa, and a BLE member since 1939, had been first assistant grand chief since 1950 prior to becoming acting grand chief.
Started on RR in 1909
The BLE leader began his rail career in 1909 when 15 as a fireman on Chicago & North Western. At that time he was making quite a name in baseball as a first baseman and catcher for a semi-pro team at Clarinda, Iowa, and turned down a tryout offered him by the old Western League because he wanted "to run one of those big locomotives." He was promoted to engineer in 1914.
Brown was named local chairman of Division 860, Boone, soon after joining the BLE and in 1945 he was elected general chairman on C&NW. Two years later, he was named second alternate assistant grand chief engineer and in 1949 he was elected assistant grand chief engineer. In 1950 he was elected first assistant grand chief.
Grand Chief Engineer and Mrs. Brown have a son, Ronald G. Brown, Chicago, and three daughters, Mrs. Gerald Henry, Charles City, Iowa; Mrs. C. L. Wheatcraft, Des Moines, and Mrs. Ted J. Swanson, Ogden, Iowa. They reside at Park Lane Villa, Cleveland, an apartment hotel owned by the BLE.
Davidson, elected first assistant grand chief engineer, had been an assistant grand chief and assumes the office which had been held by Brown.
Byrnes, named assistant grand chief engineer and national legislative representative, had directed the BLE's organization program from its Cleveland headquarters. He succeeds John T. Corbett, retiring.
The BLE convention has checked into more than 50 major resolutions with a goal of improvements in wages and working conditions.
Chairmen to Plan Drive
Grand Chief Engineer Brown announced that the General Chairmen's Association would convene soon after the convention closes to set up a program to be
Named Chief
By Engineers
CLEVELAND -- Guy L. Brown, 59, who had been acting grand chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers since the death of Grand Chief Engineer James P. Shields on the eve of the BLE's 12th triennial convention here, last week was elected grand chief engineer.
Others who had been elected by the BLE delegates, at press-time, included Roy E. Davidson, first assistant grand chief engineer, and Larry V. Byrnes, assistant grand chief engineer and national legislative representative.
Unanimously reelected were H. C. Hobart, assistant grand chief engineer, now on leave of absence serving as assistant secretary of labor, and J. B. Ward, assistant grand chief engineer and Dominion legislative representative. Also reelected assistant grand chief engineers were T. J. Harkins and C. B. Gwinn.
"Congratulations upon your election to the exalted and important position of grand chief engineer. On behalf of all the officers and members of our Brotherhood, I extend to you best wishes for a most successful administration,"
President W. P. Kennedy wired Brown.
He also extended congratulations to the other officers named by the BLE delegates.
Brown, a native of Boone, Iowa, and a BLE member since 1939, had been first assistant grand chief since 1950 prior to becoming acting grand chief.
Started on RR in 1909
The BLE leader began his rail career in 1909 when 15 as a fireman on Chicago & North Western. At that time he was making quite a name in baseball as a first baseman and catcher for a semi-pro team at Clarinda, Iowa, and turned down a tryout offered him by the old Western League because he wanted "to run one of those big locomotives." He was promoted to engineer in 1914.
Brown was named local chairman of Division 860, Boone, soon after joining the BLE and in 1945 he was elected general chairman on C&NW. Two years later, he was named second alternate assistant grand chief engineer and in 1949 he was elected assistant grand chief engineer. In 1950 he was elected first assistant grand chief.
Grand Chief Engineer and Mrs. Brown have a son, Ronald G. Brown, Chicago, and three daughters, Mrs. Gerald Henry, Charles City, Iowa; Mrs. C. L. Wheatcraft, Des Moines, and Mrs. Ted J. Swanson, Ogden, Iowa. They reside at Park Lane Villa, Cleveland, an apartment hotel owned by the BLE.
Davidson, elected first assistant grand chief engineer, had been an assistant grand chief and assumes the office which had been held by Brown.
Byrnes, named assistant grand chief engineer and national legislative representative, had directed the BLE's organization program from its Cleveland headquarters. He succeeds John T. Corbett, retiring.
The BLE convention has checked into more than 50 major resolutions with a goal of improvements in wages and working conditions.
Chairmen to Plan Drive
Grand Chief Engineer Brown announced that the General Chairmen's Association would convene soon after the convention closes to set up a program to be
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
Fortune Reversal
What keywords are associated?
Ble Election
Grand Chief Engineer
Locomotive Engineers
Guy Brown
Union Leadership
Cleveland Convention
What entities or persons were involved?
Guy L. Brown
James P. Shields
Roy E. Davidson
Larry V. Byrnes
H. C. Hobart
J. B. Ward
T. J. Harkins
C. B. Gwinn
W. P. Kennedy
Where did it happen?
Cleveland
Story Details
Key Persons
Guy L. Brown
James P. Shields
Roy E. Davidson
Larry V. Byrnes
H. C. Hobart
J. B. Ward
T. J. Harkins
C. B. Gwinn
W. P. Kennedy
Location
Cleveland
Event Date
Last Week
Story Details
Guy L. Brown elected grand chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers following the death of James P. Shields; other officers elected or reelected; Brown's career background from 1909 as fireman to leadership roles; family details; convention addresses resolutions on wages and conditions.