We mourn the passing of Retired Journeyman Inside Wireman Robert L. Morse, who passed on July 15th. He was 93, and had been a Local 569 member for over 73½ years.
Robert was 19½, when was first dispatched through Local 569, in June 1945. World War II was still being fought, both in Europe and in the Pacific. Three months later, WWII would end, on both fronts. Then one month later, on October 25th, Brother Morse was initiated in Local 569, and began as a 1st step Apprentice Inside Wireman. On July 1, 1949, he graduated to become a Journeyman Inside Wireman. His formative apprentice years would be spent at Morse Electric, Pettit Electric (2 dispatches), Beasley Electric, and Kinmore Electric. After graduation, Brother Morse continued to hone his craft at various shops: County Electric, Sun Electric, Roberts, Owl Electric (eventually became Owl-Dyna Electric, then Dynalectric), Mallison, Hansen, Pacific, RPM, California Electric (not the same as CALEWO), Standard, Delco, Underground Electric, Universal Electric, EM, Holmes & Eddings, and finally, Neal Electric, in the early 1980s.
Robert stopped working in 1984, and took his Early Retirement in 1988. The family will hold a private ceremony.
