Hundreds of family, friends and fellow Steelworkers gathered at USW International headquarters today to say goodbye to President Tom Conway, who passed away last week at the age of 71.
“He so loved his boys and his grandkids," said Dave McCall, Conway's long-time colleague and friend who succeeded him as International President. "We talked all the time about how proud we were of our kids, and how they were the most notable legacy either one of us would ever have.”
“I'll miss my friend and my brother - we all will. But I know his work and legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace, my brother," McCall said.
Conway's eldest son, Justin, said his Dad was an amazing father, an even better "grampy" and most of all, a union guy through and through.
"My Dad loved the union, and if you're in this room, he loved you," Justin Conway said.
Among those in attendance were U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai; USW President Emeriti Leo W. Gerard; former International Vice President and current AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.
"Millions of people’s lives are better because of Tom Conway," Shuler said. “It’s so hard to lose Tom right now because all the things he spent his life fighting for are coming to life…I promise we will keep going, and we will make sure his spirit is always alive in this movement.”
USW International Vice President Roxanne Brown reminded everyone that Tom always kept the membership at the forefront.
“He was the best kind of mentor, and I’m going to miss him so much," she said.
Brown read a letter personnally written by President Joe Biden, who wrote: “Tom was one of the most effective and respected labor leaders in America. He was strong, uncommonly talented and absolutely fearless. His integrity and inherent goodness always showed through."
Members of the 911th Airlift Wing Honor Guard presented military honors for Conway, who served in the United States Air Force from 1970-1974.
USW Local 6787 President Pete Trinidad explained how members of Tom's home local hand made his urn from a piece of steel pulled off the line in the mill where Conway got his start in the union. The urn requires a wrench to be opened and closed.
"It requires tools, and Tom would have been ecstatic about that," Trinidad said.
Redmond recalled Tom's master skills as a negotiator and teacher.
“Thirty years ago, I went to a collective bargaining class Tom was teaching. It was not technical, he had no handouts, but between the many F-bombs he taught us the art of negotiations and how to get the deal," Redmond said. "There will never be another Tom Conway."
Among Tom's final wishes were that donations be made in his honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Click here to donate. The service was livestreamed which you can watch below or click here to watch on our YouTube channel.