Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KEARNEY, Philip J.
KEARNEY, Philip J. (Dubuque, IA, Dec. 13, 1916--Moline, IL, Jan. 13, 1971). Kearney was an employee at the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS for twenty-four years. He was a leading figure in organizing the UAW Local 94 at the plant in 1947 and continued to be a union official for the following twenty-three years. He was a departmental steward, divisional steward, financial secretary and a delegate to many union functions. Kearney served on the shop committee from 1959 until his death and was on the negotiating committee in 1961, 1964, and 1970.