Peter R. Potenza

After 46 years of service to the IBEW, Peter R. Potenza retired on January 1, 2004, as director of the Purchasing/Inventory and Broadcasting departments.

In 1957, Brother Potenza was initiated into IBEW Local 1499 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He worked as a tool and die maker for a lighting company before four years of stateside service in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Potenza returned to the trade and became a shop steward in 1968, served on the executive board and as treasurer and financial secretary before being elected president and business manager.

In 1987, he was assigned to the I.O. Manufacturing Department, where he negotiated contracts with Square D, Rockwell, GNB Battery and Thomson Consumer. Twelve years later, he was transferred to the Broadcasting Department, successfully negotiating agreements with CBS and Fox. In 2000, Brother Potenza took over as director of the Purchasing/Inventory Department, a position he retained until his retirement. For the last year and a half, he has also served simultaneously as the Broadcasting Department director.

He has served on the board of the AFL-CIO Federal Credit Union and as a member of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has attended courses through the years at George Meany Center for Labor Studies.

Brother Potenza will return to Westford, Massachusetts, where he plans to relax and play golf, two hobbies that he will pursue during winters in Del Ray Beach, Florida. Brother Potenza said he is thankful for his career with the IBEW and looking forward to enjoying the next phase of his life with wife, Jo Ann, children Michele and Peter and grandchildren Ryan and Andrew.

Retired

Arthur J. Jones

When International Representative Arthur J. Jones retired February 1, 2004, it was just a tad short of his 41st anniversary as an IBEW member.

Brother Jones was initiated into IBEW Local 1969 in Redwood City, California, in May of 1963 and a 1968 strike led him into a union career. He served first as a picket captain, then as the strike's rank-and-file chairman and was assigned to the local staff later that same year. After being appointed business manager/ financial secretary the next year, he was re-elected twice to that office, at one time serving on all of the committees negotiating the local's 34 separate contracts.

He was one of the founders of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) in 1974 and was appointed an international representative by then-President Charles Pillard in 1976. He organized in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida for a couple of years before returning to California, where he has spent the past 25 years servicing manufacturing and construction locals in the Ninth District. Art has taken courses at the University of San Francisco, the University of California in Berkeley and University of Oregon and has also lectured on labor issues at UCal Berkeley and Skyline College. He graduated from Weed High School in Weed, California, and before joining the IBEW he spent three years in the U.S. Army, where he played football and ran track for the 4th Armored Division while stationed in Germany. He has two children, Stanley and Michelle, and says that retirement will involve some volunteer work and a lot of golf, plus getting back into fishing.

The entire Brotherhood extends congratulations and best wishes to Brother Jones on his retirement.

Appointed

Peter Homes

The IBEW is pleased to announce the December 1, 2003, appointment of Peter Homes as the new Director of the Broadcasting and Recording Department. He comes to the International Office with more than 20 years of experience in television broadcasting.

Brother Homes was initiated into Local 1212, New York City in 1980, where he worked as a cameraman, news editor and technical director. He most recently held the post of technical director for WPIX-TV, the flagship station of the WB television network. A business representative for Local 1212 since 1999, Brother Homes has spent the past four years negotiating contracts and handling grievances and arbitration.

On behalf of Local 1212, Brother Homes has served as a trustee for the Entertainment Industries 401(k) and Flex Plan for Freelance Workers. A graduate of the University of Miami, Brother Homes has a bachelor's degree in radio and television broadcasting.

The officers, staff and members of the IBEW wish Brother Homes the best of luck in his new position.

Deceased

Herbert H. Fulton

The IBEW is saddened to report that retired Eighth District International Executive Council member Herbert H. Fulton died on December 19, 2003. A tireless Canadian trade unionist throughout his 51 years of service in the IBEW, Brother Fulton was 70 years old.

Brother Fulton was initiated into IBEW Local 339, Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1952, serving four years on the Executive Board until his election as business manager in 1962. In 1981, he transferred his card to the newly-chartered Local 402 and served as its first business manager and financial secretary. Throughout the years, he served on the Northwestern Ontario Building Trades Council, the Ontario Provincial Council and was active in the Thunder Bay labour movement.

In 1974, he was appointed Eighth District International Executive Council member. He was reelected to that office in 1978 and 1984. In 1984, he was appointed international representative in the First District, where he serviced local unions in the two western provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Brother Fulton retired in 1994 to enjoy fishing, golf and curling. He leaves behind his wife, Barbara Joy, four children and several grandchildren. The officers, staff and members of the IBEW extend our deepest condolences to Brother Fulton's family and friends.

Deceased

Roger E. Richardson

The IBEW is saddened to report that retired Eighth District International Representative Roger E. Richardson died on December 5, 2003, at the age of 74.

He retired in 1989 after 36 years of service to the IBEW. Brother Richardson was initiated into Cheyenne, Wyoming, Local 415 in 1953, where he spent 12 years as an officer, including eight as business manager/financial secretary.

In 1974, Brother Richardson was appointed Eighth District International Representative, a post he held until his retirement. In that capacity, he serviced local unions in the district in negotiations, arbitrations and grievance handling. He spent his long retirement at home in Cheyenne, where he enjoyed golf, fishing and traveling in his recreational vehicle.

He is survived by his wife, Evelynn, children and grandchildren. The IBEW extends its deepest sympathy to Brother Richardson's family, friends and former colleagues.