AJR75,1,32 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker was born on June 7, 1940, in Milwaukee,
3Wisconsin, and died on January 1, 2006, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and

AJR75,1,64 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker was a machinist and lifelong union man who
5worked tirelessly for workers' rights, which often included union involvement in
6political campaigns which enabled him to meet 7 different presidents; and

AJR75,1,87 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker called Milwaukee home. He attended Marquette
8University High School before graduating from St. Pius XI High School in 1958; and

AJR75,1,119 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker married Marie Fedder on May 12, 1962, and
10celebrated 43 years of marriage with her until his death. Together they had 7
11children; and

AJR75,1,1512 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker began as a machinist at Allis-Chalmers and other
13firms before settling at Miller Brewery where he worked from 1962 to 1973, except
14during the years he served active duty stateside with the army. He continued his
15military service in the Army Reserve until 1969; and

AJR75,2,4

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1Whereas, Thomas J. Parker began his union service in 1973 as the full-time
2secretary-treasurer of the Machinists Union Lodge 66. In addition to managing the
3local union, he often problem solved for other lodges in the Midwest at the request
4of the International Machinists Union; and

AJR75,2,95 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker was elected to the post of president of the
6Milwaukee County Labor Council in 1978, which then represented more than 96,000
7workers with about 200 AFL-CIO locals. He was reelected every 2 years until he
8stepped down in 1999, taking with him his own style of leadership to the post, which
9was aggressive when needed, but mostly quiet and dignified; and

AJR75,2,1410 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker served on a wide variety of boards, committees, and
11commissions, including the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Forward Wisconsin, the
12City of Milwaukee Plan Commission, the Aurora Health Care board of directors, the
13Bradley Center construction board, the American Red Cross, and his favorite, the
14United Way of Greater Milwaukee, for which he served one year as chair; and

AJR75,2,1815 Whereas, Thomas J. Parker was an inspiration to many, lived and loved the
16labor movement, was well known for his straight-thinking logic and honesty, fought
17and cared for the underdog and people who needed help in order to make the world
18a better place; now, therefore, be it