SSMRC President and Nuclear Representative, David Bonds is retiring after nearly 45 years of service to the brotherhood.
Bonds started his career in 1979, when he joined Millwright Local 2070 in Roanoke, Virginia as an apprentice. During his time in Virginia, Bonds completed the 4 Year Apprenticeship program and began working as a journeyman, before transferring his membership to Millwright Local 1421 in 1987.
He worked in the field until May of 1996, when he was hired by the North Texas Carpenters Regional Council as the business representative for the local. During his time serving as business representative, the NTCRC was dissolved, and the Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Council was chartered. Bonds held his position as business representative of Local 1421 until May of 2006, where he then transitioned into the Training Director position for the North Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Training Trust. He maintained that position well before transitioning back into the business representative role.
In 2010, the Southern States Millwright Regional Council was established, and Bonds was appointed as a committee member of the council and later elected as the President by the Delegates, where he currently serves.
During his 44 years of service, Bonds has always been an active member and contributed a great deal to the brotherhood through his leadership efforts.
Bonds has set a retirement date of April, just a few days shy of 45 years of service.
At the March staff meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, UBC Southern District Vice President, Dennis Donahou and SSMRC Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Wayne Jennings presented Bonds with a crystal gavel as a token of appreciation of his service. The gavel, engraved with the UBC and SSMRC emblem in the crystal base and the 1421 Emblem engraved into the face of the gavel, represents his dedication to the UBC, SSMRC, and Local 1421, where he served the majority of his career.
“ You have to give respect where it is due, David has served the members of the UBC, SSMRC, and Local 1421 in every capacity from rank and file to President of his Local and the Southern States Millwrights,” said EST Jennings. “David has held every executive board position in his local and currently serves as trustee on Health and Welfare, Pension, and Training Trust Funds, which is no easy task. David has always proven to be engaged, knowledgeable, and to have the best interest of the body in every position held. It takes a lot of effort to serve as business agent, training director, trustee, and any executive position within the brotherhood. In 2016 we established a Nuclear Business Agent position for the SSMRC. I asked David if he would lead that effort and without hesitation he accepted. David worked diligently to get the position established, working with our nuclear mechanics and our partnering contractors to effectively develop a program to better serve the nuclear industry. Very few individuals know what it took to bring this full circle. I commend and personally thank David for everything he has done to advance the labor movement. David is a valuable member of the UBC, SSMRC, and Local 1421. I would imagine there are many members like me that will miss having David to lean on from time to time, but we are all working toward the days of retirement, where we can shed the stress of work and spend quality time with family and friends, taking in whatever activity we enjoy as often as possible. I hope David enjoys a long and relaxing retirement. Thank you for being part of our team.”
The SSMRC would like to extend its thanks to Mr. Bonds for his service to the brotherhood and wish him a great retirement.