Our April TCU Veteran of the Month is Brother Nicholas Contreras. Brother Contreras was drafted and served in the United States Army from March 1954 to March 1956. During his service, he completed 16 weeks of Basic and Advanced Infantry Training in Fort Bliss, Texas, and was stationed in Pittsburg, PA.
Brother Contreras has been a TCU member for 65 years. He started with Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) in 1951 and joined Local Lodge 6783. He then served as Secretary and Vice Local Chairman from 1968 to 1974 and as Local Chairman from 1974 to 1978. In 1978, Brother Contreras was elected General Chairman of Joint Protective Board 450, the post he held until being voted a Carmen Division General Vice President (GVP) at the 1991 Convention. He served as GVP from 1991 to 1999 and retired in March 2000.
Brother Contreras was the first and only Hispanic male to become a Carmen Division GVP.
He now lives in Waller, TX, with his wife and children. He will be celebrating his 90th birthday on April 12th!
Thank you, Brother Contreras, for your service and for being part of our great union! Your TCU family wishes you a blessed & happy 90th birthday!