DECEASED — Retired Eighth District International Representative Neil Tyree died at his home in Helena, Mont., on Feb. 27. He was 83.
Brother Tyree is remembered as a tireless advocate for IBEW members who was willing to take on a leadership role even during difficult times. Rocky Anderson, who served as president of Casper, Wyo., Local 322 when Tyree was business manager there in the 1980s, said Tyree paid for food and beverage during local meetings and other events himself instead of charging it to the local. He would do the same in individual meetings with members, always paying for a meal or a beverage.
“It always came out of his pocket because our local was in such bad straits,” said Anderson, who later served as Local 322’s training director. “He spent quite a bit of his salary taking care of the membership.”
Local 322 lost much of its work in the early part of the decade due to changes in federal polices under the Reagan administration. Tyree realized that and thought membership fees should go toward rebuilding the contractor base. Expenses on other items were kept at a minimum. He also made sure members got the credit when the local was recognized for good work when he could have easily taken it for himself, Anderson said.
A native of Pomona, Calif., Brother Tyree moved to Nevada with his family as a child. He served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1962 and joined Las Vegas Local 357 in 1963 before moving to Wyoming, where he completed a Local 322 apprenticeship and became a journeyman wireman.
He became an IBEW activist while working at the Jim Bridger Power Plant in Rock Springs, Wyo., where he served as a Local 322 steward for several years. He was elected to its executive board in 1978 before being elected business manager in 1981.
He served in that role until being appointed an international representative in 1989. Tyree’s primary role was as a service rep for Montana locals, although he had other duties throughout the Eighth District, which also includes Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
“He was a real asset,” said Don Herzog, who served alongside Tyree as an Eighth District international representative and is now retired. “He really wanted to do the working man justice.”
Anderson echoed those comments, noting Tyree made sure Local 322 had a visible presence in the Wyoming labor community. For instance, he and other Local 322 members attended rallies in support of workers at a local grocery chain trying to gain representation from the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
Herzog said Tyree had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick with a joke, but no one confused that with him not taking his work seriously.
“Once he got something in his head, whether it was an arbitration hearing or representing someone, he just wouldn’t let it go,” Herzog said. “He put hours into arbitration hearings. His work ethic was paramount.”
Tyree retired in 2004 and kept his home in Helena, where he moved after being named an international representative. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and was buried with military honors at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery.
He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 61 years; two sons; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
The officers and staff send their condolences to Brother Tyree’s family and friends during this difficult time and thank him for his many years of service.
