On March 24, 2009, Chris Gibson, TWU 514 Executive Board Member, received the Jack L. Lewis Award for his help and dedication with the Tulsa Area United Way. Chris has been a Labor Loaned Executive to the Tulsa Area United Way for the past five years, representing the Transport Workers Union of America, Local 514. Chris has also been a volunteer on the Tulsa Area United Way’s Community Investment Panels for the past five years. He has helped for several years on the Labor United Way Kick Off Golf Scramble. Chris also helps with the blood drives that the TWU hold at American.
“Chris is always there when you need him and someone you can count on”
said Tom Albaugh, Jr., AFLCIO Community Services Liaison, who presented Chris with the award. The Jack L. Lewis Award is named after Jack Lewis who served as Local 514’s President from March of 1969 through May of 1969. Jack became a United Way Liaison, where he served until his death in 1998. It was called the Community Services Award in the beginning, and was started in 1996. Tom Albaugh, Jr., changed the name to the Jack L. Lewis Community Service Award after Jack Lewis passed away. Only two other of our Executive Board members have ever received this award, Mike “Bear” Messick in 2004 and Jim Curry, President of Oklahoma State AFLCIO (and member of T.W.U. 514) in 2005. Mark De Angelis, QA Inspector AO, received the George Meany Award for his work in Scouting. Mark taught the Aviation Merit Badge and the Pioneering Merit Badge in 2006. Mark continues to be the Leader in charge of Pioneering events. In 2006 Mark was one of the leaders on the Troop High Adventure trip to Boundary Water. In 2007, Mark started helping the new Scout Master and coordinating camp outs and in August, he presented a High Adventure idea to the troop for Maroon Bells in Colorado, and eighteen people signed up, ten scouts and eight adults. Mark began teaching the Hiking Merit Badge to help prepare for the High Adventure. “There are so many things that we, as leaders, do to teach the boys in both the way of the Scout and in life.
“I enjoy being an influence in the growth of young boys into young men”,
Mark said.
“Every time we have an Eagle Ceremony and a boy names those who have helped him on his journey, its nice when I hear my name, because at that point I know I made a difference in someone’s life and that’s what it’s all about”
The George Meany Scouting Award is a national recognition approved by the AFLCIO Executive Council. It may be presented to any adult union member who has made a significant contribution to the youth of their community through Scouting. Each AFLCIO city central labor council and each AFLCIO state federation is permitted to give one award annually. The emphasis of this award is on the importance of being selective. There is no rule that the quota must be used every year. No honorary recognitions should be made. The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding service to youth through the programs of the Boy Scouts of America. Since 1991, this award has been presented to sixteen of our TWU 514 members: Glen M. Loum (1991), William H. Lotter (1992), Ronney Le Compte (1993), Dennis Hall (1994), Michael Cox (1995), Ronald Zuschlag (1996), Thomas Stauffer (1997), John McDonald (1998), Michael McCarty (1999), Tracy Hardin, Sr. (2000), John Carlisle (2003), James Wolf (2004), Allan Ball (2005), John Bonk (2006), James Gardenhire (2007), and Steve Corbett (2008).