P&PF United Association’s Pat Kellett honored by Ancient Order of Hibernians

By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher

With almost 1,000 people decked out in green celebrating, the St. Louis chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH – the oldest and largest Catholic lay organization in America), honored eight city and county fire fighters and police officers and named as Distinguished Labor Leader Pat Kellett, General Secretary-Treasurer of the United Association of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs and former business manager of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562.

Surrounded by his family and dozens of Local 562 members and their spouses, Kellett said, “It’s an honor to represent our incredible union members who make St. Louis tick.”

The gala 20^th Anniversary “Hoses, Handcuffs and Hard Hats” Judge James Dailey Wahl Memorial event celebrated 2020 and 2021 honorees on March 10, as last year’s celebration was canceled because of the pandemic.

The annual event is dedicated to fire fighters, law enforcement officers, public safety personnel and union members killed in the line of duty since the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on America.

This year’s event was held at Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1’s Hall – also decked out in green.

FIRE FIGHTER HONOREES
City Fire Fighters of the Year, members of Fire Fighters Local 73:
• 2021 – Battalion Chief William Pollihan.
• 2022 – Captain Michael Barnes.

County Fire Fighters of the Year, members of Fire Fighters Local 2265:
• 2021 – Battalion Chief Brad Peters.
• 2022 – Battalion Chief Daniel “Rusty” Shelton.

POLICE OFFICER HONOREES
City Police Officers of the Year:
• 2021 – Sgt. William Brush.

County Police Officers of the Year:
• 2021 – Detective Douglas Forsyth Jr.
• 2022 – Zachary Faulkner.

OTHER HONOREES
Civic Leader of the Year:
The Syberg Family, owners of Syberg’s Family of Restaurants.

Grand Marshall of the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sandi Swift, veteran teacher at the St. Charles West High School.

SPECIAL GUESTS
The master of ceremonies was Tom Wahl, son of Judge Wahl, the highly respected pro-Labor lawyer and judge who died in 2016 and for whom the program has been named in honor of his service.

The program included an incredible display of Irish dancing by the youngsters of the Meghan Torno School of Irish Dance, and an emotional, moving rendition of “O Danny Boy” by NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Smith, who played for the St. Louis football Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

SPECIAL THANKS
The evening’s printed program gave special thanks for the support of Fire Fighters Locals 73 and 2665, IBEW Local 1, Iron Workers Local 396, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, Bricklayers Administrative District Council of Eastern Missouri and Bricklayers Local 1, Operating Engineers Local 513, Laborers Local 42, Gas Workers Local 11-6, Teamsters Locals 6 and 600, Insulators Local 1, Carpenters Midwest Regional Council, the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council and the Labor Tribune.