With great sadness, the IBEW announces the death of retired Third District International Representative Jon Henrich on July 27. He was 73.

Brother Henrich, a native of Lancaster, Pa., served as business manager of Bethlehem Local 1600 before joining the Third District staff in 1989. He retired in 2002.

Third District International Vice President Don Siegel says, "Jon was a passionate trade unionist who always cared deeply about his home Local 1600 and the IBEW."

An Air Force veteran who served during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis and participated in combat missions in Lebanon and Vietnam, Henrich, a journeyman lineman who retired from PPL in 1995, negotiated contracts with most major utility companies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware.

Henrich served as vice president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and treasurer of the Capital Area Labor Management Group and on the boards of directors of the labor departments of Penn State and Indian Universities. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Elks.

A graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, Brother Henrich received certificates in labor relations from Antioch College, Cornell University, Millersville University and Penn State.

After retirement, says Siegel, Henrich was IBEW's representative on the board of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans. While some full-time union representatives leave union and political activism behind when they retire, Siegel says, "Jon stayed very engaged in political affairs and advocating for retirees and we spoke often about both."

During his days on pension, Henrich also spent time fishing and helping his wife, Betty, raise llamas on their farm in Leola, Pa.

On behalf of the officers, staff and membership, the IBEW sends our deepest condolences to his wife and family.

Fourth District International Representative Terry Luckett retired effective Aug. 1 after more than 40 years of service to the IBEW.

After completing a standard two-year probationary period for new apprentices looking to join the union, Brother Luckett was initiated into Louisville, Ky., Local 369 in 1971. By the time he topped out in 1973, he had honed his skills by working for a handful of contractors in and around his hometown of Louisville.

"When I first started out, I was looking for a stable career and was told that the electrical trade was a good way to go," Luckett said. An auspicious conversation with neighbor Chester Massie — a Local 369 member — at a church picnic piqued Luckett's curiosity. Massie was then chairman of the local's apprenticeship committee. "He told me I could be making as much as $5.25 an hour as a journeyman," Luckett said. "That was good money in those days."

The next few years saw Luckett increasing his activism in the local, serving on the COPE committee, the athletic committee and the picnic committee. He served as an assistant business agent beginning in 1977 and was hired as a full-time organizer in 1990. Five years later, the membership elected Luckett business manager.

"One of my biggest goals during that time was to make it possible for our members to work at home and not have to rely too much on travel jobs," a challenge mitigated by aggressively increasing market share in the local's jurisdiction, he said. "At the time, we had a market recovery fund that allowed us to hire three full-time organizers who could get out into the field and organize our territory." A key strategy was meeting with employees at nonunion shops, who contributed to a groundswell of bottom-up organizing. "We worked hard to stand up for workers who were getting abused by their employers."

IBEW International President J.J. Barry appointed Luckett an International Representative in 2000 to service 35 construction locals in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and his home state of Kentucky. Building the Brotherhood in this diverse area presented unique challenges and opportunities, Luckett said. "States like Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland are much more labor-friendly. Then you have a right-to-work state like Virginia and some anti-worker policies in Kentucky where it's tougher to get labor laws enforced."

Luckett took courses through the University of Kentucky, Indiana University, the National Labor College and other institutions to bolster his skills as an organizer. He also served on the 4th District Strategic Planning Committee. Luckett attended the last eight IBEW International Conventions. The first six he attended were as a delegate from his home local, and for the last two he was part of the International staff.

He looks forward to spending time with his wife, Patty, and his four children, nine grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Other plans include improving his golf swing and traveling with family members.

On behalf of the entire union membership, the officers and staff wish Brother Luckett a healthy, enjoyable and well-deserved retirement.

First District International Representative Jerry R. Wilson retired July 1. Initiated into Kitchener, Ontario, Local 804 in 1968, Brother Wilson worked on projects as a journeyman wireman throughout the province. In 1972 he became the local's recording secretary.

"No one wanted to run and the business manager knew that I never missed a union meeting so he asked if I would put my name into contention," Wilson says.

Appointed assistant business manager eight years later, he was elected business manager in 1987.

During his time in office, he introduced the open-door policy, which granted membership to any qualified electrician, substantially increasing Local 804's market share.

Wilson also served as president of the local building trades council. Under his leadership, the building trades convinced Toyota to build its first plant in Ontario union. And the car manufacturer continues to build its facilities union today.

"We promised a steady supply of good, skilled workers and that is what they got," he says.

Appointed International Representative in 1999, Wilson served as executive assistant to International Vice President Phil Flemming.

"Our office is responsible for the entire country, so Phil and I were always busy, traveling from coast to coast," he says.

In retirement, Wilson plans to spend more time with his wife, Terry, at their cottage on Lake Huron and traveling the world. The couple has four children and eight grandchildren. His son Andy followed him into the trade, and is also a Local 804 member. Brother Wilson also hopes to spend more time on his prized Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

"Never had much time to ride it when I was working, so I'm looking forward to hitting the road," Wilson says.

The officers and brothers of the IBEW wish Brother Wilson great health and much happiness in his retirement.