Honoring the Legacy of Brother John A. Saunders

Smithville, Texas—It is with heavy hearts and profound respect that SMART honors the life and legacy of Brother John A. Saunders, who passed away on January 28, 2025, at the age of 84. 
 
Known to those closest to him as Dad, Rocko, or PawPaw, Brother Saunders was the uncle of SMART-TD’s current Texas Safety & Legislative Director Kamron Saunders and played a major role in his upbringing.  
 
After attending college on a scholarship as a pitcher at Allen Academy in Bryan, TX and the University of Texas School of Draftsman, he settled in Smithville.  
 
A member of Local 508 who worked for the Katy and MKT railroads, Brother Saunders ultimately retired as a conductor from Union Pacific after becoming a union member in 1975.  
 
As a United Transportation Union (UTU) General Chairman and the first chairman of the Union Pacific Caucus, he worked hard to ensure that future railroaders and their families would be well taken care of for years to come.  
 
Brother Saunders could usually be found spending time with his family and friends, enjoying a coffee, or watching his beloved Houston Astros.  
 
He is survived by his sons, Nathan and Scott, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews.   
 
We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Brother Saunders’s family and his Union family at Local 508. Most importantly, we want to express our gratitude for the powerful impression that Brother Saunders left on our union and his nephew, Kamron, who continues to carry on the Saunders family legacy.