Rail supplier news from Archer Western, Sasser, Savage, Railmark and RailPros; and, in memoriam: Robert Bartholic (Feb. 8)

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has chosen Archer Western to build a new $28.5 million TEX Rail station adjacent to Terminal B. The station will serve as the terminus for the planned 27-mile commuter-rail project, which is being built by an Archer Western/Herzog joint venture. Expected to serve 8,000 daily riders, the TEX Rail line will feature a walkway to the existing Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail station next to DFW Airport's Terminal A.

Sasser Family Holdings Inc.'s board has elected Jeff Walsh chief executive officer, effective Feb. 15. Formerly the company's chief operating officer, Walsh will succeed Fred Sasser, who's stepping down after 36 years as CEO. Before joining Sasser Family Holdings in 2013, Walsh spent 15 years at GATX Corp., where he was group executive of the structured finance division. He also served as general manager of GATX's rail structured finance, industrial equipment finance, and marine business groups. During his time at Sasser, Walsh has been "pivotal" to the company's continued success, Fred Sasser said in a press release. Walsh is the first non-family member to be elected CEO in the company's history.

Savage has acquired industrial and environmental field services company Sunpro Inc. Founded in 1989, Sunpro provides emergency response services — including spill response, remediation and transportation of environmental waste — across a variety of industries. The company operates nine facilities and supports more than 100 customers in 12 states, Savage officials said in a press release. Financial details of the acquisition weren't disclosed.

Railmark Holdings Inc. has consolidated its rail logistics business activity under its wholly owned subsidiary Railmark Rail Services Inc. (RSS). The company also has rebranded its rail logistics business unit as "Railmark Logistics." RSS will continue to offer rail-car mechanical services for both freight and passenger cars with its mobile and shop crews. The consolidation is aimed at allowing the company to "focus greater resources toward the automotive and government sectors," said Railmark President and CEO B. Allen Brown in a press release.

RailPros Field Services Inc. has hired David Fitzwater as senior project manager. He has more than 32 years of engineering and management experience, with the past two decades focused on the heavy freight-rail sector, RailPros officials said in a press release. Before joining the company, Fitzwater served as associate vice president at another national railroad engineering firm. He's an active member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, where he provides leadership on Committee 8, which focuses on concrete structures and foundations.

Rail industry legal expert Robert Bartholic died Jan. 29. He was 84. During his career, Bartholic worked in the law departments of the former Great Northern Railway and its successor Burlington Northern Railroad. He later established a private law practice and assisted in the acquisition of various rights of way for Denver's light-rail system, according to a statement issued by PTSI Transportation, where Bartholic later served as general counsel. He also helped PTSI establish its corporate home in Colorado. Bartholic is survived by his wife, Esther; two sons; and grandchildren.