As 2003 came to a close Local 70 was notified of the deaths of three former officers. We extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends.

Gone but not forgotten:

JAMES O. RUSH

Jim Rush joined Local 70 as a driver at Sears/Signal Trucking in the early 1960's. He was active in union affairs from the beginning, serving as Shop Steward shortly after being hired. In the early 1970's he was elected Recording Secretary of Local 70 and served in that position for two terms.

Jim was a leader during his years of membership. In the 1971 beverage strike, he was arrested three times and later coordinated Local 70's strike activities in the 1972 Sears struggle. For the last twenty years he has served as a paralegal for the John Hill Law Offices. Most recently he was a member of SEIU 616 and served as a delegate to the Alameda County Central Labor Council. Always involved with the community, Rush was honored in 2002 for his advocacy of immigrant rights by Instituto Laboral de la Raza. Jim is survived by wife Joan, son Dan Rush former Local 70 member who now belongs to United Food Commercial Workers 120, and sister Barbara Graves. He was 65 years old.

ART SOTO

Art Soto was a Trustee on Local 70's Executive Board for twenty years (1966 - 1986). He was a Bay Area native, born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland. He joined Local 70 in the late 1940s and worked most of his career at Owens Illinois. Teamstering was Art's second career; his first was boxing. He had over 100 fights against the likes of BoBo Olsen, Kid Gavalan and Billy Graham. In 1952 he won the California middleweight championship with a victory over Bobby Jones. Art is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anita Soto, his children Arthur and Theresa grandson Jason, as well as three brothers and a sister. He was 75 years old.

ROBERT "BOB" WINDSOR, SR.

If you remember the beverage strike of 1971-1972, you remember Bob Windsor. He was totally dedicated and worked tirelessly for six months, the duration of the strike, on behalf of our members. His leadership contributed to one of the real victories in Teamster history. The contract was outstanding and has set the standard for the last thirty years of industry bargaining. Windsor went from Teamsters Local 70 to Teamsters Local 856 where he also served as Business Agent. He retired in the mid 1980s.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Bob drove for Pacific Motor Trucking before his election to office. After retirement he and wife Marelene moved from Walnut Creek to Bend, Oregon.

Bob is survived by his wife Marlene, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before his death, his children - Debbie, Robert, Jr., and Karen. He had seven grand children and 2 great grand children. He was 71 years old.