Former Vice President Paul A. Loughran Passes Away

The IBEW is deeply saddened to report the death July 6, 2002, of retired Second District International Vice President Paul A. Loughran. Brother Loughran, 74, served the Brotherhood for 44 years, 26 of them as a staff member or officer.

He retired in May 1997 after seven years as Second District Vice President. He began his career in Local 104 in Boston, Massachusetts, and spent his lifetime serving IBEW members in his native New England.

After service in the U.S. Navy from 1945-1949 and a stint as a signal maintainer on the New York Central Railroad, Brother Loughran was initiated into Local 104 on November 17, 1953, and worked as a journeyman lineman, foreman and general foreman while serving on a wide variety of local committees. In 1965, he was elected business manager-financial secretary of his local.

He was appointed International Representative in 1971 and in 1976 became Administrative Assistant to then-International Vice President John E. Flynn. In 1990 then-International President J.J. Barry appointed Brother Loughran Second District Vice President. He was re-elected at the 34^th and 35^th IBEW International Conventions.

The IBEW extends its sincere condolences to Brother Loughrans sons and to his family and many friends throughout New England.

Retired

James D. Merrigan

Second District International Representative James D. Merrigan completed 35 years of service to the Brotherhood with a September 1, 2002, retirement. A member since 1962, Brother Merrigan has been an International Representative since 1988.

A native of New Jersey, he was initiated into Local 327, Dover, New Jersey, after four years in the U.S. Navy. He transferred to Local 300 in Montpelier, Vermont, in 1967 and became business manager a year later.

During 20 years as business manager of Local 300, Brother Merrigan represented IBEW in a wide variety of activitiesas president of the New England Utility Council 1972-1988, on the Council on Industrial Relations (CIR) 1984-1988 and as secretary of the Vermont Building Trades, AFL-CIO, 1974-1988.

As an International Representative, Merrigan was appointed by the governor of Vermont as a member of the state Apprenticeship Council. He attended the University of Maine, studying Advanced Spanish. He has two grown sons who are IBEW members.

An active member of the American Legion and of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, he lists his retirement interests as flying, sailing and motorcycling. The IBEW congratulates Brother Merrigan and his wife, Patricia, and wishes them all the best of a healthy and happy retirement.