Photo by Mary Ann O'Toole Holley of the St. Louis Labor Tribune, used with permission
After over 40 Years with the Bricklayers, ADC of Eastern Missouri Director Don Brown retired on March 1, 2017, appointing Brother Brian Jennewein as his successor.
Brother Don Brown was indentured to Masonry Systems in September 1974, and as a Journeyman Bricklayer, worked most of his career for John J. Smith Masonry Company.
Bricklaying was not Don’s only successful career, however. In 1980, he began boxing at a gym in Pacific, MO, with Coach Kenny Johnson. In 1982, he won the St. Louis Golden Gloves Heavyweight Novice Division Title, and went on to win the International Boxing Federation Regional Tournament Heavyweight Open Division. He was unfortunately eliminated in the International Boxing Federation’s National Tournament, but was later ranked #7 in the nation. In 1983 and 1985, he won the St. Louis Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Open Division.
In March 1990, Brother Brown was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for Local 1, and in March 1991, Brother Brown was appointed Trustee and asked to become a Business Representative for Bricklayers Local 1.
After serving faithfully in that position for 9 years, upon Brother Jim Kavanaugh’s retirement in January 2000, Brother Brown was asked to replace him as Business Manager for Bricklayers’ Union Local No. 1 of MO and tapped to become Regional Vice President. He was appointed a Trustee for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, and made a Delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council, and the Delegate to the Missouri State Labor Council, and appointed to the Executive Board of the Missouri AFL-CIO.
All the while, Brother Brown continued to mentor and give back to the boxing community. In 2004, as a tribute to his exemplary record and service, he was inducted into the Gateway Classic Boxing Hall of Fame in St. Louis.
In 2010, after the merger of Locals 1 and 23 of Missouri, the International Union formed an Administrative District Council to preside over the newly merged Bricklayers’ Locals, as well as Local 18 Tile, Marble and Terrazzo Workers of Missouri. Brother Brown was appointed Director of the ADC of Eastern Missouri by former IU President Boland, and remained Regional Vice President and Trustee for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, a Delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council, a Delegate to the Missouri State Labor Council, and on the Executive Board of the Missouri AFL-CIO. He was also elected the Vice President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of St. Louis. He served in these roles until his retirement on March 1, 2017, when he asked Brother Brian Jennewein to take his role as Director of the ADC.
Brother Brown counts guiding Local 1 through 3 concurrent strikes, 2015, 2011, and 2006, without sacrificing member benefits and successfully leading the negotiating team that thwarted an attack by the Mason Contractors Association on the Defined Benefit Plan, which was the primary impetus for the 2015 strike, among his most successful accomplishments in his time as Director and Business Manager.
Congratulations to Don on his retirement!
