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Retired
During his career with the IBEW, Brother Eads has worked in every branch of the Brotherhood, and as an organizer, negotiator and mediator. Filing and trying numerous cases with the National Labor Relations Board, in 1997 he successfully processed an appeal overturning a precedent-setting case regarding board jurisdiction at Prairie Meadows Race Track. He has served as vice president since his appointment by former International President J.J. Barry in 1998. After five years as a member of the International Association of Machinists, Brother Eads was initiated into IBEW Local 1464 in Kansas City, Missouri, in November 1965, at Kansas City Power and Light. He received his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Finlay Engineering College in 1970. Eventually working his way up to distribution construction planner, Brother Eads was elected business manager/financial secretary of Local 1613, Kansas City, a position he held until 1977. In 1977, Brother Eads was appointed International Representative and assigned to the International Office in Washington, D.C., where he worked out of the Special Projects Department on major organizing campaigns throughout the United States. After a newly-organized unit of IBEW members signed a first contract with Louisville Gas and Electric, Brother Eads spent a year in Kentucky administering 140 grievances. He led a 1985 campaign at AT&T Technologies in Orlando, Florida, for a unit that eventually reached 800. Other campaigns of note are Pepco, Alabama Power Company, Western Electric and many rural electric associations and municipal campaigns. Brother Eads returned to the Eleventh District in 1987. Assigned to utility and manufacturing locals in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, he assisted with labor agreement negotiations, labor law, arbitration and labor relations in the utility and manufacturing branches. In 1993, Brother Eads was confirmed as an expert witness by the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations to testify on municipal utility court cases. He was recognized for outstanding service to the labor movement in Nebraska by the Nebraska State Utility Workers in 1995. For the past five years, Brother Eads said he has enjoyed his seat on the board of the Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO, which plans the annual Union Industries Show to highlight union-made goods and services. He has also been active on the Missouri AFL-CIO executive board. A lifelong student, Brother Eads attended courses at George Meany Center-National Labor College in Maryland on arbitration, mediation, statistics and public relations. In addition to his Bachelor’s degree, he holds minors in labor relations, labor law, business administration and economics. Brother Eads and his wife Thalia have three children and nine grandchildren. He said he is looking forward to a respite from constant travel. "I plan to do the things I haven’t had time for in the past 30 years," he said, including tending to his antique gun collection, hunting and fishing. The officers, staff and members of the IBEW wish Brother Eads a long, healthy and fulfilling retirement. Appointed
"I look forward to working with all of my brothers and sisters in the Eleventh District to meet the challenges ahead in all branches of the IBEW," Brother Lee said. Brother Lee was initiated into Kansas City, Missouri, Local 124 in 1969, after four years in the U.S. Navy. He completed the inside wireman apprenticeship in 1973 and worked construction for several years before becoming involved in local leadership at the encouragement of the business manager. He successfully ran for a spot on the executive board in 1981, serving on that body until 1987. As business manager from 1993 to 2002, Brother Lee concentrated on organizing, increasing the local’s market share and membership. He participated in the Labor-Management Cooperation Committee and was a trustee and chairman on the local’s health and welfare, pension, annuity and 401(k), holiday and vacation trust funds and the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Brother Lee was active in the unionized construction community, serving as president of the Kansas City Building Trades, vice chairman of the Kansas City Labor-Management Council and on the executive board of the Missouri State Building Trades. In 2002, Brother Lee was appointed International Representative and assigned to construction locals in Missouri. Last year, he became Eleventh District organizing coordinator, a challenge in the current political and economic environment."We have our work cut out for us," he said. Brother Lee has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in business management from Webster University. The officers, staff and members of the IBEW wish Brother Lee much success in his new position. Editor’s Note: The swearing-in photo of Brother Lee will appear in a future issue. |
TransitionsJuly/August IBEW Journal
Swearing-in of Joseph Lohman by International President Edwin D. Hill and International Secretary-Treasurer Jon F. Walters.Retired Appointed |
Tradesman, organizer and longtime IBEW leader William C. Eads ends his full career of service with his August 1, 2005, retirement as Eleventh District Vice President.
The IBEW is pleased to announce the August 1, 2005, appointment of Lindell Lee as Eleventh District Vice President. He replaces William Eads, who retired.
