[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E78]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN A. McGINNESS, FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF SERVICE 
TO LOCAL 12 OF THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF 
 THE PLUMBING AND PIPE FITTING INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2007

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man whose 
professional life has been dedicated to improving the lives of working 
men and women in Massachusetts, across our nation and beyond our 
borders. Jack McGinness is a remarkable labor leader with a long and 
illustrious career in the United Association of Journeymen and 
Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United 
States and Canada.
  Brother Jack McGinness, the youngest of six children, was born in 
Cambridge, Massachusetts to William and Anne McGinness. He grew up in 
the City of Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge High and Latin 
School. After graduation, Jack honorably served our country by 
enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.
  Jack was initiated into the Plumbers Apprenticeship Program on 
September 28, 1964. In his first year, Jack worked for the George 
Murphy Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following the completion of 
his five year apprentice training program, Jack worked as a plumber and 
foreman for U.A. Contractors within the jurisdiction of Local 12 but 
also other U.A. contractors on the road in the U.S. and Canada.
  During his tenure, brother McGinness served as a member of Plumbers 
Local 12, as an officer on Local 12's Joint Conference Board, Executive 
Board, the Apprentice Committee as well as served as Trustee for the 
Local 12 Health and Welfare Fund, delegate to the United Association's 
National Convention in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. Brother McGinness 
served on the Sergeant of Arms Committee from 2001 until 2006. He was 
elected Business Agent in 1994.
  Jack's dedication to the men and women of the Building Trades has 
been regularly acknowledged by his peers. He was elected by his 
brothers and sisters of labor to serve as President of the Framingham-
Newton Building Trades Council as well as to serve on the State 
Building Trades Executive Board as a Delegate to the National Building 
Trades Convention in 2001 and 2005.
  Anyone who has had the privilege to work along side Jack knows that 
he is a dedicated and thoughtful individual, concerned primarily for 
the safety and welfare of his union brothers and sisters and their 
families.
  Beyond his professional commitment, Jack devoted much of his time to 
developing Local 12's annual participation in Dads' Day and Toys for 
Tots as well as the Local 12 Golf Committee and the Local 12 Social 
Committee.
  Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the Floor of the House 
today to join with Jack McGinness' family, friends and brothers and 
sisters of labor to thank him for more than forty years of remarkable 
service to the American Labor Movement. I hope my Colleagues will join 
me in celebrating Jack's distinguished career and wishing him good 
health and God's blessing in all his future endeavors.

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