June 2002 IBEW Journal

Retired

Vincent A. OReilly

An era closes for the Brotherhood June 1 with the retirement of Vincent A. OReilly, the senior executive assistant to the International President, whose 56-year career distinguished him as one of the most capable officials in IBEW history.

Born in 1928, initiated into the union in 1946, he served 31 years at the International Officethe final 20 as assistant to three different International Presidents.

"You dont replace a Vince OReilly," said International President Edwin D. Hill. "You accept the fact he has certainly earned his retirement and then start to miss him, because we relied on him for so much for such a long time. It is not possible to know how much good he has done for our members and other North American workers."

A native of Evanston, Illinois, Brother OReilly was initiated into Local 1530, Northbrook, Illinois, and was an activist, immediatly serving as a steward and then chief steward. He joined the executive board in 1954, becoming financial secretary in 1956 and business manager in 1958. He was appointed as an International Representative in 1971 and assigned to the Utility Department, where he became director in 1973.

International President Charles Pillard appointed Brother OReilly as assistant to the president in 1982, and International President J.J. Barry promoted him to senior executive assistant in 1987.

In Illinois he served in a variety of related posts, including five years on the board of the Illinois State Conference of the IBEW and nine years as secretary-treasurer of System Council U-25, which coordinated the work of 19 IBEW local unions on behalf of 10,000 members. He was also editor of the council publication. He served on advisory committees to the Chicago Labor Education program of the University of Illinois and the Union-Management Conference of Notre Dame University.

In Washington, Brother OReilly served as IBEW representative on a variety of economic, energy and engineering boards. He was a member of a Federal Power Commission survey on energy and served on energy committees for the National Academy of Engineering, the United Nations Association and the Twentieth Century Fund.

He and his wife Joan, who is also a highly respected IBEW figure, have two sons, Kevin and Timothy, and three grandsons. The Rev. Kevin OReilly, pastor of Holy Face Catholic Church in Great Mills, Maryland, is a perennial at delivering invocations at IBEW events.

Everyone in the IBEWand Vince OReilly knows and has helped an astounding number of themwishes the OReillys the happy retirement they so richly deserve.

Appointed

Lawrence F. Neidig, Jr.

IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill has appointed Lawrence F. Neidig, Jr. as senior executive assistant to the officers to succeed Vincent A. OReilly, who retired effective June 1.

"Its fortunate for all of us that we have someone of Larrys caliber to step into this job," President Hill said. "Everyone who has worked with him knows his exceptional qualitiesand its a job at the hub of our Brotherhood, where his skills will be much needed."

A native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Brother Neidig attended the Williamsport Area Community College before starting his IBEW career at age 21.

He was initiated into Local 812 in Williamsport in 1969 and became president of the local in 1976. He was first elected business manager/ financial secretary in 1985 and made his mark in the wider labor community, serving as president of the Lycoming County AFL-CIO. He became the first president of the Clinton-Lycoming central body after merger.

He also served as vice president of the Central Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades and was an activist in local affairs, serving on the executive board of the Democratic Party and on the Lycoming County United Way and the Keystone League.

In April 1992, International President J.J. Barry appointed him as an International Representative. At the Third District, he worked on a wide variety of assignments. In 2001, he came to the International Office to work with Brother OReilly on preparations for the 36^th International Convention and other duties.

While on the district staff, Brother Neidig served as vice president and executive board member of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. In 1998, he was appointed to the United Way of Beaver County.

Brother Neidig and his wife, Sally, have four children and five grandchildren.

Transitions

Retired

Orville A. Tate, Jr.

Vincent A. O'Reilly

Louis Cortopassi, Jr.

Appointed

Jonathan B. Gardner

Lawrence F. Neidig, Jr.

Deceased

John M. Parker