|
UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer died Friday, Dec. 19, at age 61 after suffering a stroke two days earlier. He also was a member of the UTU and United Transportation Union Insurance Association (UTUIA) boards of directors.
Affectionately known as "Brokenrail," he was serving his fifth term as the UTU's chief lobbyist and was one of the mostly widely recognized individuals on Capitol Hill.
UTU International President Mike Futhey said of Brokenrail's passing:
"Our union lost a congressional lobbyist considered by his peers, by the lawmakers he lobbied, and by their senior staff as one of the most effective in Washington at his trade.
"Brokenrail prided himself on making friends for us on both sides of the congressional aisle. Whether explaining our issues to Democrats or Republicans, he was interested in only one result: Do they understand the issue from a UTU member's perspective?
"He didn't win all lawmakers over to our point of view, but he continued cultivating those who voted against us, recognizing that tomorrow is another day, and it is better to have friends in Congress than enemies.
"Brokenrail made for this union a lot of good friends in high places, which helped us to achieve many legislative and regulatory agency goals we might otherwise have failed to achieve. He will be sorely missed."
James Brunkenhoefer was born July 23, 1947, in Texas, and began his railroad career in 1966 as a trainman for the Southern Pacific Transportation Co. on the Dallas-Sabine District. He was promoted to engineer in 1971, and held seniority in train and engine service crafts over those Union Pacific lines in Texas and Louisiana.
He was elected vice local chairperson of Local 83 in Houston in 1969. Brunkenhoefer also served the members of Local 83 as local president, local vice president, member of the local's board of trustees, local chairperson, local legislative representative, delegate and special organizer. In 1980, he was elevated to alternate Texas state legislative director, and in 1982 assumed the full directorship of the Texas State Legislative Board.
At the UTU's Fifth Quadrennial Convention in 1987, Brunkenhoefer was elected national legislative director, and was re-elected to that post at subsequent UTU conventions in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Sinkin, of McLean, Va.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages that contributions, in the name of James Brunkenhoefer, be made to So Others May Eat, 71 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 22, at Am Kolel Sanctuary in Rockville, Md., with burial to follow. For driving directions, click on the following link:
http://www.sanctuaryretreatcenter.com:80/directions.html
If the time changes, an update will be provided on the UTU Web site at www.utu.org, and an e-mail alert will be sent to those signed up for UTU e-mail alerts.
A memorial service in honor of Brunkenhoefer will be scheduled and announced at a later date.
James "Brokenrail" Brunkenhoefer
|