Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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Against the Wind
1986
Founding Convention
Regional Representatives
Among those attending NATCA’s
founding convention in September
1986 were the nine interim regional representatives,
who had been elected or appointed
during the preceding two years:
Alaskan: Joe Dunigan from
Anchorage Tower/TRACON served as
regional rep and Anchorage Center controller
Will Faville Jr. assisted him as his
alternate. However, Faville, who checked
out as an FPL just three weeks before
the convention, was the only controller
from Alaska to attend. As a result, he
signed the MEBA affiliation agreement
and represented the region on votes for
the interim constitution and initial dues.
He took over officially when Dunigan
stepped down shortly after the union was
certified in 1987.
Central: Like many others in the
region, Jim Poole from Cedar Rapids
Tower/TRACON did not get involved in
organizing until 1986. During the spring
and summer, however, he visited every
facility in the region, often accompanied
by Doc Cullison. Poole was elected
regional representative at a meeting in
August. He knew he’d be transferring to
Chicago Center in October, however, so
Dan Brandt from Omaha TRACON was
elected first alternate and Kansas City
Center controller Ray Spickler was voted
second alternate.
Eastern: Joe O’Brien from New
York TRACON served as the original regional
rep during the AATCC organizing
drive, but stepped down due to family
pressures. At a pre-convention caucus in
August 1986, controllers elected Steve
Bell, also from New York TRACON, as
regional rep and Dave Pearson from Harrisburg
Tower/TRACON in Pennsylvania
as his alternate.
Great Lakes: Fred Gilbert, an early
activist from AATCC days at Chicago
Center, served as regional rep. His alternate
was Cleveland Center controller
Scott Lawless.
New England: Howie Barte, who
now worked at Providence Tower, was
elected regional rep in November 1984.
Dave Landry, another PATCO member
who refused to strike at Lebanon Tower
in New Hampshire (believed to be the
only facility in the region where no one
walked out), served as Barte’s alternate.
Northwest Mountain: Gary Molen
from Salt Lake Center had served as re-
gional rep since 1985. Seattle Center controller
David Brown became his alternate
(until he quit the FAA in June 1987 to
publicize his biography of rodeo cowboy
Chris LeDoux, titled Gold Buckle Dreams).
The FAA rehired Brown in 1991.
Southern: Dennis Delaney from
Pensacola Tower/TRACON served as
regional rep after Lee Riley nominated
him for the position. Riley, who helped
start the movement at Atlanta Center, had
taken over as regional rep from Daytona
Beach controller Dan Keeney. When
Delaney was elected, Riley became his
alternate.
Southwest: Ed Mullin from Love
Field in Dallas was named regional rep at
a meeting in early 1986. Houston Center
controller Dennis O’Brien served as
Mullin’s alternate.
Western-Pacific: Jim McCann
from Chino Tower in California served as
the original de facto regional rep. At the
national NATCA meeting in March 1986,
attended by Rep. Mineta, controllers
elected Los Angeles TRACON controller
Karl Grundmann as regional rep and
Richard Bamberger from Lindbergh Field
in San Diego as his alternate.