October 2004 IBEW Journal

Retired

NJATC Executive Secretary
A. J. Pearson Retires

A.J. Pearson retired on September 1, 2004, after a 40-year career that was instrumental in building one of the most successful apprenticeship and journeymen craft training programs in the world. Appointed assistant director of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) in 1976, Pearson moved on to the directorship ten years later, serving in that capacity for 18 years.

In a farewell memo to JATC training directors, industry and IBEW leaders, Pearson stated "few can ever stop a determined and focused group who seeks to do good for the well-being of all." The Executive Committee of the NJATC has selected Mike Callanan to succeed Pearson.

Alonzo J. Pearson, Jr., known to family and friends as "Junny" or "A.J." was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, on January 4, 1942. After graduating from Harrison Chilhowee Baptist Academy in 1960, Pearson enlisted in the Army and served honorably until his discharge in 1964.

With the encouragement of his oldest brother, Ralph, a IBEW inside wireman, Brother Pearson applied to the Oak Ridge Electrical Apprenticeship program in 1964. He completed his apprenticeship in 1969 after also earning an associate of arts degree from Hiwassee College in June 1968.

In 1971, Pearson, a member of Local 270, was appointed training director for the Knoxville and Oak Ridge apprentice programs, while continuing to work on an undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee.

Pearson was elected president of Local 270 in 1972, serving simultaneously as training director. He graduated from the University of Tennessee the same year with an education degree. After earning his master’s in industrial education in 1974, he worked as a graduate teaching assistant and then became a full-time instructor. Pearson returned to the electrical trade in 1976 as assistant director of the NJATC in Maryland, eventually earning a degree in electronics engineering technology at Prince George’s County Community College.

During Pearson’s tenure, the number of journeymen trained by the NJATC grew from eight thousand journeymen per year taking technical courses to around 50,000. The NJATC was the first of the trades to establish college credit programs with the American Council on Education and has since adopted innovative online courses that prepare electrical trades members to meet the challenges of new technologies.

Brother Pearson is returning to Tennessee, and looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Carolyn, daughter Cynthia, son Chuck and their four grandchildren.

The IBEW wishes Brother Pearson a long, healthy and well-deserved retirement.

Deceased

Carl J. Tutorino

The IBEW is saddened to report that retired Eleventh District International Representative Carl Tutorino died on August 15, 2004. He was 70 years old.

Brother Tutorino was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 13, 1934, and initiated into Local 124 in Kansas City in 1955. Brother Tutorino was an active member of the local, serving in numerous capacities including recording secretary, member of the Labor Management Committee, delegate to the Kansas City Central Labor Council and member of the Local Union Building Committee. He was appointed International Representative in 1977 and assigned to the Eleventh District staff. He retired in 1999.

Brother Tutorino is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their two children, Joseph and Melinda. The officers, staff and members of the IBEW extend our condolences to his many friends and family.

Deceased

Ernest M. Scott

The IBEW regrets to report the August 21, 2004, death of retired International Representative Ernest M. Scott. He was 77.

In 1954, Brother Scott was initiated into Local 540 in Canton, Ohio, where he worked as a journeyman inside wireman. He served the local on the executive board and as business manager. Brother Scott served as president of the East Central Ohio Building Trades Council and was a member of the Ohio State Building Trades Council, the Tri-State Business Managers Association and was instrumental in the formation of the American Line Builders Apprenticeship Training Committee. In 1971, he was appointed International Representative and assigned to the Fourth District staff, where he serviced local unions in the inside, manufacturing, outside, telephone and utility branches. He retired in 1987.

Brother Scott was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Pacific during World War II and later in Korea. He was a graduate of the George Meany Center for Labor Studies.

He is survived by his wife, Beth, four children, 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Two of his sons, Michael and Donald, are journeyman wiremen and members of Local 540. Members, staff and officers of the IBEW express deep condolences to Brother Scott’s family and friends.

Transitions