 The history of the
Machinists Union is dedicated to a unique brotherhood of roving
machinists who were known as boomers.
They knew each other by such names as Dutchy Bigelow,
Milwaukee Bill, Fireball McNamara and Red Clifford . . . Texas
Frank, Black Jack Roberts, Windy Lane and Silverheel Smith . .
Crusty Paulson, Happy Anderson, Big Nose Brennan and Steampipe
McDermott . . . Smoky Davis, Silk Hat John Kelly, Yankee Tim
Sullivan and Hard Luck Bob Carson . . . Gabby Cook, Shanty Frank
Shannon, Pittsburgh Murphy and Highball Mooney . . . Kid Richardson,
Deacon Hague, Pay Day Conners and Scarface Charlie.
It is dedicated to these and all the other unknown, unsung,
and unremembered boomer machinists who fought, cussed, drank, rode
the rails . . . and built a union.
But most of all it is dedicated to Pete Conlon (pictured) . .
. the greatest boomer of them all.
The Boomers
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