[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RICHARD McCLEES: LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, today I recognize Richard 
McClees as the 2004 Labor Leader of the Year. This award will be given 
by the San Diego Labor Community at the Twenty-Second Annual John S. 
Lyons Memorial Banquet on September 11, 2004.
  Rich, as he is known, is currently Chief International Representative 
of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association. He comes from a 
strong union background. His father, Charles McClees, now retired, was 
a 54-year member of Sheet Metal Workers' Local 206, and two of Rich's 
brothers, Mike and Chuck, are current members. His older brother, 
Dwight, recently retired as a San Diego City teacher/school principal 
with 34 years of membership in the teachers' union. His sister, 
Margaret, is employed by the San Diego Building and Construction Trades 
Council.
  Rich began working on his father's tuna boat at the age of 12. Until 
he was 18, he spent each summer on the Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to 
Washington state, fishing for albacore tuna. Upon his graduation from 
high school in 1968, Rich joined Sheet Metal Workers' Local 206 and 
began working at California Neon Products. In 1970, he entered the 
apprenticeship program at Standard Sheet Metal Works. His work during 
this period included the sheet metal restoration of the historic 1880s 
Villa Montezuma at 15th and K Streets in San Diego.
  Rich completed his apprenticeship in 1974, receiving the Apprentice 
of the Year Award from Mesa College, winning the Regional 10 Apprentice 
Contest for Sheet Metal Apprentices, and competing in the National 
Apprenticeship Contest in Minneapolis. In 1976, he began his eighteen 
years at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant, working for University 
Mechanical Engineering Contractors.
  As early as 1979, Rich began teaching apprenticeship classes for 
Local 206. He also coached his daughter's and son's soccer teams and 
was an active participant in many other of their extracurricular 
activities. He was elected Business Representative of the Sheet Metal 
Workers' Local 206 in 1994. In 1996, he became the Apprenticeship 
Coordinator for Local 206, in addition to his duties as Business 
Representative. He was also a member of the San Diego and California 
Apprenticeship Coordinators Association.
  In 2000, Rich was elected Business Manager/Financial Secretary 
Treasurer of Local 206, while continuing his duties as Local 206 
Apprenticeship Coordinator. He also served on the Executive Board of 
the Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, as a Trustee of the 
Sheet Metal Workers of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada Pension 
and Health Funds, as Vice-President of the National City Parks 
Apartments, as President of the San Diego Building and Construction 
Trades Council, and as an Executive Board Member of the San Diego and 
Imperial Counties Labor Council.
  He is currently attending the George Meany National Labor College and 
will soon receive his Bachelor of Arts Degree. On April 1, 2004, Rich 
was appointed by Michael J. Sullivan, General President of the Sheet 
Metal Workers' International Association, as Chief International 
Representative/Director of Jurisdiction for the Washington, D.C. 
office, and he resides in Arlington, Virginia. His daughter and son and 
their families live in San Diego.
  The banquet at which Rich will be presented with his award is named 
in recognition of the late John Lyons of the Teamsters who was very 
active in the San Diego community. He was a founder of the San Diego 
Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America. The friends of Mr. Lyons 
continue to support his cause, and proceeds from the yearly banquets 
are used to support bone marrow testing and local research grants. 
Since its inception, the John Lyons Memorial Banquet has raised over 
one million dollars.
  Through his dedication and willingness to serve, Rich has done much 
to advance the cause of the labor movement, and my congratulations go 
to Rich McClees for his significant contributions. He is highly 
deserving of the 2004 Labor Leader of the Year Award.

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