Brother Gilbert, a member of Local 234, was president of the BLF&E when he joined with Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) President Charles Luna, Switchmen's Union of North America (SUNA) President Neil P. Speirs and Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen (ORC&B) President Clyde F. Lane to form the United Transportation Union in 1969.

Under terms of the Unification Agreement passed by a referendum of the memberships, Brother Gilbert and the former chiefs of the ORC&B and SUNA became assistant presidents of the UTU upon unification, while Luna served as UTU International President. Gilbert, who also became the presiding officer of the UTU Board of Directors, retired in 1971.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m., and services will follow at 11 a.m. at the Lakeview United Methodist Church, 10298 W. Thunderbird, Sun City, AZ 85351. Details are being handled by the Sunland Mortuary, which can be reached at (623) 933-0161.

Brother Gilbert's wife of 77 years, Alice Marie (nee) Iman, passed away March 16, 2003.

A member of Palm Brook Country Club and a devout Christian who served his church, he is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

"Ed helped to put this organization together by combining operating crafts while maintaining the autonomy of those crafts," said UTU International President Byron A. Boyd Jr. "Ed was a personal friend and mentor. I shall miss him."

Henry "Ed" Gilbert was born Oct. 5, 1906, in Ethel, Mo. He completed high school and attended two semesters of college before beginning his career at age 19 with the Santa Fe Railroad in Chicago in 1925, where he worked in the signal department and then in engine service. Six months later, in October 1926, he went to work on the Chicago & Alton Railroad as a locomotive fireman., joining BLF&E Lodge 707 on Oct. 3 the following year. He was promoted to engineer in 1935.

He was a member of his local grievance committee from 1934 until 1936 when he became chairman, serving for the next seven years. He was also legislative officer during that time. Other positions he held during the 1940s included those of secretary-treasurer of the general grievance committee, executive member of the Illinois Legislative Board, and general organizer for the BLF&E Grand Lodge.

Gilbert was a delegate to conventions in 1937 and 1941, and at the latter convention was named an alternate member of the board of directors. He filled a vacancy on that body in 1944 and at the following convention in 1947 he was elected a vice president. The convention in 1953 elected him to the presidency.

Displacement of enginemen due to the introduction of new technology was high on the list of problems he was called on to deal with as president of the BLF&E.

Through his work, he became acquainted with rail officials, labor leaders, governors and U.S. senators, and was on a first-name basis with five U.S. Presidents. He appeared on the cover of the July 26, 1963, issue of Time magazine, which featured a four-page article about him, and also appeared on "Meet the Press" that same year.

In recognition of his labor and humanitarian accomplishments, Gilbert was presented the Eugene V. Debs Award in 1969.

H.E. Gilbert and his wife, Alice.