Published 24 Mar, 2016
On a cloudy Saturday in mid-March, TWU Local 2015 paid tribute to the late James Riley, former president of the local, during the 41st annual Wilmington, Del., St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Brother Riley died unexpectedly last April and the local and his family felt that honoring his memory in the parade would be a fitting tribute to his Irish roots. First elected as Vice President in 1978, Brother Riley served as Local 2015 President from 1984 until his death.
Local 2015 Executive Board Member Dennis McGinness Jr. was the lead organizer of the event and many other local officers and members not only marched in the parade, but purchased commemorative sweatshirts to ward off the late-winter chill.
Delaware U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper, and U.S. Rep. John Carney were on hand to greet the family and Local 2015 members during the parade. They were invited by the local to march as a tribute to Brother Riley and his political activism over the years.
Pictured left to right are: Local 2015 President Chris Thomas; Sen. Chris Coons; Brother Riley’s daughter, Jamie; former Local 2015 Vice President James Lewandowsi, Brother Riley’s wife, Rosalie; his son, David; and TWU Rail Division Director Gary Maslanka.