Former BLET leader Rightnowar dies

Charles Rightnowar, former general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's Union Pacific-Central Region General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), died Dec. 5. He was 73.

A Vietnam War veteran, Rightnowar began his railroading career with Missouri Pacific Railroad, which later merged with Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, BLET officials said in a press release. Both of those properties are now part of Union Pacific Railroad.

Rightnowar was a BLET member for more than 48 years. He became local chairman of Division 724 in 1994, and later was elected general chairman of the former UP-Eastern Region GCA, the predecessor of the UP-Central Region GCA. He retired from that role in 2011.

Rightnowar is survived by his wife, Paula; three daughters and six grandchildren.