Clitheroe, William E., 1906-1973

Clitheroe was born on July 4, 1906, in Mill Hill, Middlesex, England, and studied engineering at the London Polytechnic Institute. He served his apprenticeship as a machinist before coming to the United States. He worked as a machinist in Texas where he joined the International Association of Machinists in Houston in 1937. He held many offices in the I.A.M. in his thirty-five year service to the labor movement.

William E. Clitheroe was born on July 4, 1906, in Mill Hill, Middlesex, England, and studied engineering at the London Polytechnic Institute. He served his apprenticeship as a machinist before coming to the United States. He worked as a machinist in Texas where he joined the International Association of Machinists in Houston in 1937.

Clitheroe devoted a great number of years to the labor movement as an active member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In 1951 Mr. Clitheroe became a Grand Lodge Representative for the I.A.M. in the Southern Territory. He remained at this position until he retired July 4, 1971. During that time, he traveled throughout the Southern territory participating in and observing different functions such as the apprenticeship conferences, and national I.A.M. Conventions. He also served on discussion panels, and as committee chairman in the Southern SA Steering Committee. In 1958, he was named director for education in the I.A.M. for this southern area. At this position, he initiated new labor education programs and earned the admiration and respect of prominent labor officials. Although he retired in 1971, Mr. Clitheroe remained active and attended union meetings and civic group functions. By 1972 he became a member of District #37 Senior Citizens' Club in Texas and served on the Senior Citizens' Council. This involvement with senior citizens earned him more recognition and on July 11, 1972 the Texas AFL-CIO President, Roy Evans, named Mr. Clitheroe as Director of Senior Citizens. He served in this capacity until his death in 1973.