O'Donnell, Gerald J.

Gerald James O'Donnell was born November 24, 1898, the fifth of eight children born to Pat and Ellen O'Donnell. O'Donnell lived his entire life in St. Paul, Minnesota, growing up in a home located at 373 Harrison Avenue (now torn down to make way for Interstate 35E) and residing most of his adult life at 1875 Worcester Avenue. O'Donnell attended the Cretin School through the eighth grade and worked several years as a clerk and a driver before beginning his career in steamfitting. In 1917 he met his future wife, Evelyn Simon, on the corner of St. Clair and West Seventh. The couple were married in 1921 and later had two daughters, Lois and Geraldine.

O'Donnell's lifelong association with the labor movement began in 1918 when he started an apprenticeship in the steamfitting-pipefitting trade through the United Association local No. 455, AFL. He became a journeyman in 1925. With the exception of a few years during the depression when he didn't have enough money to pay dues, O'Donnell was an active member of the Steamfitters Local 455 for the next sixty years of his life, serving as vice chairman, chairman, on the executive board, and as business manager for thirty years. One of his proudest achievements was the institution of an apprenticeship program in Local 455, the first such training program for young pipefitters in the area.

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