Memorial Services Saturday for UFLAC Founding Member
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 is joined by California Professional Firefighters and the entire fire labor community in mourning the loss of one of UFLAC's "founding fathers."
Brother Jim Perry, who served the citizens of Los Angeles and the members of Local 112 for close to half a century, died Thursday in a traffic collision.
Jim began his fire service career in 1961, and became one of the founding members of Local 112. Over the course of his career, he served in nearly every capacity on the UFLAC Executive Board. Jim's two decades on the front lines included his receipt of a Life Saving Award of Merit from President John F. Kennedy. After his retirement in the early 1980s, he continued to serve Local 112 in the decades to follow and was eventually voted a Life Member of Local 112.
Brother Perry was best known as the editor -- for nearly four decades -- of UFLAC's award-winning newspaper, the Los Angeles Firefighter. Jim was also an honorary life member of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles and received more than 150 "Awards for Excellence" from that organization.
A tireless advocate on behalf of UFLAC and the labor movement, Brother Perry used his bully pulpit to champion not just his firefighter brothers and sisters, but working men and women everywhere.
His final crusade was his effort to publicize the denial of death benefits to the widow of a fallen UFLAC member. The insurance company ultimately reversed its decision and granted the claim (click here to read the story).
Memorial Services
An LA City memorial service honoring Jim Perry will be held next Saturday, December 19th at 10am at the Frank Hotchkin Training Center in Los Angeles. Click HERE to get more information at www.uflac.org.
In addition to the LA City memorial, a family will also be held this Saturday near Perry's Nevada home.