J.P. Gardner, second from left, celebrates his 90th birthday with (l. to r.) his grandson, Allen, and sons, Olen, Malcolm, and Robert. All are Boilermaker members.
Sons and grandson follow in J.P. Gardner’s footsteps as Boilermakers
J.P. GARDNER, a retired member of Local 454, Chattanooga, Tenn., celebrated his 90th birthday on Feb. 14. He is pictured above with his three sons — Olen, Malcolm, and Robert — who are also retired Boilermakers, and his grandson, Allen, who currently works as a Boilermaker. All are members of Local 454, a construction and maintenance lodge affiliated with District Lodge 57.
J.P. worked four years as a laborer and transient worker before joining the union in 1955. He then worked 27 more years before his retirement. In recent years he has looked forward to attending the lodge’s annual picnic, where he has been recognized as the oldest Boilermaker present.
“My dad loved boiler making,” Olen said. “If you happen to ask him about it, his reply is always the same: ‘the Boilermakers made me a good living.’”
