Related Articles

March 2004 IBEW Journal

Deceased

Freddy J. Allen

The IBEW is saddened to announce the death January 10, 2004, of Freddy J. Allen, who retired in 1996 as director of industrial organizing after serving in the International Office in various organizing capacities for a total of 17 years. He was 66.

Born in Rockford, Alabama, Brother Allen was initiated into IBEW Local 801, Montgomery, Alabama, in 1960 and soon began his union service—as vice president and executive board member in 1962, as president of the local in 1964 and as business manager in 1968.

While business manager of Local 801, he also served three years as business manager of System Council U-19, Alabama Power Company, before he was appointed international representative and assigned to headquarters in the Organizing Department in 1979.

He was subsequently appointed in 1992 as director of Utility and Telecommunications Organizing and filled in briefly as director of organizing in manufacturing before 1995, when he was named as director of Industrial Organizing, the position from which he retired.

After high school, Brother Allen attended Auburn University for one year and was in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1959 before beginning his apprenticeship in Local 801.

He made his retirement home in Montgomery and is survived by his wife, Naomi. The IBEW extends its deepest sympathy to her, his sons, Joel Scott and Timmy, and his stepdaughter Ellen Lassiter, and to his family and friends.

Deceased

T.E. “Jack” Bobbitt

The IBEW regrets to announce the death January 6, 2004, of Thomas E. Bobbitt, better known as “Jack” Bobbitt. He was 86 years old and died just a few months short of 30 years after he retired from the International Office as director of the Agreements Department.

Brother Bobbitt served in the International Office for 25 years. He was the business manager of Local 549, Huntington, West Virginia, when he was appointed an international representative in 1949.

Always a specialist in Agreements, “Jack” also served as an assistant to International President J. Scott Milne in 1954 and 1955. Milne’s predecessor, International President D.W. Tracy, appointed him to the IO staff.

A member of Local 549 for 60 years, he had been working out of that railroad local for 22 months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He served in the U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II as an electronic technician and continued a lifelong hobby of amateur radio transmission.

He remained active as a veteran, serving as quartermaster for his VFW district, and was a Mason and a trustee of the Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Daisy, and two children, Ann and Elaine.

Deceased

Maurice E. Conway

The IBEW is saddened to report the January 10, 2004, death of retired International Representative Maurice E. Conway. He was 77.

Brother Conway was initiated into Montgomery, Alabama, Local 801 in 1947. He later transferred his card to Local 1053 in Selma, Alabama. On the local level, he served as financial secretary, president and vice president. He also served as treasurer of System Council U-19, which represents workers at Alabama Power Company.

He was appointed International Representative in 1972, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1992.

An ordained minister in the Church of Christ, Brother Conway and his wife, Ruth, had six children. The officers, staff and employees of the IBEW send their deepest condolences to Brother Conway’s wife, Ruth, family and friends.