Lifetime of Memories

Retired Local 9 WV member Richard Harris, left, received his Gold Card from BAC President John J. Flynn.

In 2006, Brother Richard Harris of Local 9 West Virginia received his 50-year Gold Card from BAC President John J. Flynn. It brought to mind Harris’ first project as a new, 16-year old BAC member, when he was chosen to lay the first ceremonial brick at a church two blocks from his high school in West Virginia. Little did he know at the time that he would claim many “masonry firsts” during his long and productive career.

The trade underwent significant changes during the second half of the 20th century, and Brother Harris experienced many of them, including “working on the first tubular metal scaffolding used in this area, being served by a forklift on a multi-story building by one of the first lifts designed for that purpose…and [installing] the first prefabricated masonry panels to be used here.”

The first project of many for Brother Harris.

An active and committed Union member, Brother Harris has served Local 9 as a trustee on the Apprentice Committee, the Health and Welfare Committee, the Pension Fund Committee, and the Industry Promotion Fund. He has been equally dedicated to his community, where he has chaired committees for the United Way, advanced a fund that has provided over 6,600 pairs of shoes to needy children, and taken on increasing responsibility over a 22-year period for the Elks Free Throw Contest in five mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia.

In recognition of his community service, Brother Harris has been named State Elk of the Year and State Citizen of the Year by the Elks. He was also named Distinguished West Virginian by then Governor Gaston Caperton. If that wasn’t enough, he also received the United Way’s Volunteer of the Year Award and their highest honor, the Helping Hand Award.

Brother Harris recently wrote, “My father was a brick mason, my grandfather was a brick mason, and my great grandfather was a stonemason who later became the area’s largest brick manufacturer…As I drive around [Charleston, West Virginia] today, it is interesting to revisit some of the buildings I worked on and the many different styles of brickwork I had the privilege of learning. Being a member of Local #9 has been very satisfying and very rewarding.”

There’s absolutely no doubt that Local 9 and the Charleston community share the same positive, upbeat sentiments about Richard Harris.