Former National Officer Thomas Neill Passes Away

(This article first appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

Thomas Neill passed away on April 23 at the age of 87. Brother Neill first joined the Post Office in 1961 in Houston, TX, following four years of military service in the United States Air Force.

Brother Neill’s service to the union began shortly after he became a postal worker, serving on the local safety and health committee. He was then elected local president for the Houston, Texas National Postal Union (NPU), a position he held for six years before his election as Texas State NPU President.

Beginning in 1973, Brother Neill served as a National Vice President of the Clerk Craft in the Dallas Region, and in 1983, was elected APWU Industrial Relations Director, holding the position until his retirement in 1995. Following retirement, Brother Neill stayed an active member of the Fort Worth Area Local Retiree Chapter.

As Industrial Relations Director, Brother Neill played an instrumental role in national negotiations and advancing the rights, benefits and wellbeing of APWU members and all postal workers.

“Words cannot express the privilege, pleasure and honor it has been to serve the APWU,” Brother Neill wrote in his farewell column before his retirement. “As in all jobs there have been bad days; but I can honestly say the times have mostly been good. There have been glorious victories and a few painful defeats. There have, however, been no regrets.” Brother Neill is survived by Sheri, his wife of 43 years, and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.