Harry was born September 15, 1947 in Jacksonville FL. He is preceded in death by his parents Harry and Elizabeth Brown. He began the Inside Journeyman Wireman Apprenticeship program after graduating from Cocoa Beach High School in 1965. In 1967 he entered the U.S. Army and served his country during the Vietnam Conflict. After being honorably discharged in 1970, he married Erma Quick of ST. Cloud, FL.
Harry continued his Journeyman apprenticeship, finishing the program in 1973. While in the field, Harry worked as a Journeyman, Foreman, Project Manager, and Superintendent. As a forty year member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 606, Harry served on the Executive Board, and was elected as Vice President, and then elected Business Manager in 1992. He continued to lead Local 606 as Business Manager for eighteen years until his retirement in 2010. Among some of Harry's achievements were serving on the Central Florida Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, President of the Florida Electrical Workers Association for eight years, President of the Central Florida Building Trades for eleven years, Central Florida AFL-CIO President for four years, Executive Board member of the Florida AFL-CIO and the Florida Building and Construction Trades Council, Chairman of the Craft Maintenance Council for Walt Disney Maintenance employees, and a member of the National Fire Protection Association for thirteen years, where he established fire protection codes for the entire country.
Harry enjoyed camping, fishing, shooting and spending time on the water. When he was not working or traveling he could often be found relaxing with family and friends on the St. John’s River.
Harry is survived by two children: Arthur Clayton Brown and Patricia Ann Murphy, both of Davenport FL; four grandchildren: Hannah, Kyle, Dallas, and Garrett; and two sisters: Jackie Simmons and Mary McGuffie.
Although Harry's record of achievement is long and illustrious, what he was most proud of was his family and helping workers improve their lives and the lives of their families. Harry Brown will forever be missed, as a father, a friend, union brother, and a true labor leader.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10:00 am at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Florida 34734. The service will be followed by a reception at the IBEW 606 Union Hall at 820 Virginia Dr, Orlando Fl 32803, 407-896-7271.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made in Harry’s memory to:
Good Shepherd Hospice
115 S. Missouri Ave
Suite 500
Lakeland FL. 33815
(863) 682-0027
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