Clarence F. Foose

R. B. Wehrli

Mark E. Hemphill

Clarence F. Foose retired effective January 1, 1998 after serving for 14 years as Vice President of the Western Region.

Foose joined the BMWE in November 1955 as a member of Subordinate Lodge 85 after going to work for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company as a track laborer. He was later promoted to the position of B&B Foreman.

After holding various subordinate lodge positions, Foose went to work in 1975 for the BMWE Pacific Federation as a system representative and afterwards held the position of assistant chairman-secretary-treasurer until elected in 1978, as general chairman, the position he held when he succeeded S. E. Fleming as vice president.

Foose was born in Casper, Wyoming but was raised in California. He made his home in Sacramento prior to moving to Aurora, Colorado when he was elected vice president. He and his wife, the former Jacqueline Bushey, have nine children between them and 13 grandchildren.

Rick B. Wehrli was elected to succeed Foose as Vice President of the Western Region effective January 1, 1998.

Wehrli joined the BMWE in January 1974 after going to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. He started as a section man and held various positions, including truck operator and welder helper, before going to work for the BMWE.

Following a similar path as Foose, Wehrli went to work in 1980 as a system representative with the BMWE Union Pacific System Division, and thereafter served as assistant chairman-secretary-treasurer until his election in 1986 as general chairman, the position he held until elected vice president.

In addition, Wehrli was elected to the Grand Lodge Executive Board in 1990 and again in 1994, and served as secretary of that body.

Wehrli was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He and his wife, the former Marcia Garges, have two children and make their home in Aurora, Colorado.

Mark E. Hemphill was elected to succeed Wehrli as Grand Lodge Executive Board Member from the Western Region.

Hemphill joined the BMWE in 1973 as a member of Subordinate Lodge 2406. He worked for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway as a trackman, assistant foreman, foreman and track supervisor.

In 1988 Hemphill went to work for the BMWE Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe System Federation as assistant general chairman and was elected general chairman, the position he currently holds, in 1990.

Hemphill was born in Great Bend, Kansas and he, his wife Verda and their daughter Sherry reside in Newton, Kansas.