Article published Sunday, August 30, 2009 HARRY 'JIM' WILSON, 1950-2009 Union chief had trust of fellow dock workers
Harry "Jim" Wilson, 58, a longtime grain dock worker who as president of his union local had the trust of members, died yesterday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio, South Detroit Avenue, of heart disease.
Heart surgery more than six years ago prevented him from returning to work.
"That was a great disappointment to him," his wife, Robin, said.
He was president of Local 153, International Longshoremen's Association, until about three years ago, Secretary-Treasurer Bill Robb said. Union members and officers continued to seek his advice.
"They trusted him," Mr. Robb said. Ron Weideman is the current president.
Mr. Wilson of Maumee and formerly of East Toledo, succeeded the late Paul John Sielschott, who was president for nearly 40 years.
"[Mr. Wilson] had the task of somehow trying to please the younger people without hurting the people who had been there for years," Mr. Robb said. "It was a difficult task. We tried to be fair to both sides.
"He was a good listener," Mr. Robb said.
He negotiated contracts with the grain terminals, including an agreement with Archer Daniels Midland reached after the local struck the firm because it wanted to use nonunion workers to load vessels.
"The day we got done, he told me he was going in to have [heart] surgery," Mr. Robb recalled.
Mr. Wilson worked on the grain docks since 1970 and continued when he became president. He was a supervisor for much of his career, his wife said, and later became a dispatcher, calling members in when a grain freighter was due.
He was the son of Nancy and James C. "Carl" Wilson and grew up in South Toledo. He was a Libbey High School graduate and attended Owens Community College.
Christmas was his favorite holiday. When he knew a late-season vessel wouldn't get home for the holiday, he made sure the crew had a tree and trimmings.
As oldest of his siblings, after their father's death he oversaw a family gift-giving ritual that brought together his several dozen nieces and nephews.
"He loved to decorate. Everything had to be done perfectly," his wife said. "You had to have all kinds of food, and plenty of it. The more the merrier."
Surviving are his wife, Robin, whom he married May 1, 1972; sons, James Carlton Wilson II, Tim Wilson, and Harry J. "Jimmy" Wilson, Jr.; daughter, Aimee Caywood; brothers, Carl, Bill, Jeff, and Mark Wilson; sister, Mary Kreger, and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee, where the body will be after 3 p.m. tomorrow.
The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Permanent Link
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