International President Lonnie Stephenson with Brother Choate’s jacket
Shortly after 40-year member Bob Choate retired from his position with the union in 2011, he told Local 1245 member Ralph Meier that all he wanted was to attend one more IBEW International Convention (he had represented Local 1245 as a delegate at three previous IO conventions).
Sadly, Brother Choate passed away in March of this year and never got the chance to fulfill that aspiration. However, Choate had given Meier his old union jacket, and Meier asked Local 1245 Treasurer Cecelia De La Torre to bring it to this year’s IO convention in St. Louis, as a way for Choate to attend in spirit. De La Torre and IBEW Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell and shared the story of Choate’s jacket with IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson, who took photos with the jacket inside the convention hall to commemorate Brother Choate’s legacy.
From left: Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell, IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson, and Local 1245 Treasurer Cecelia De La Torre commemorate Brother Choate’s legacy by posing for a photo with his jacket.