Jack Wood, a legend at the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council for more than 20 years, passed away Aug. 22, 2000 after an extended illness. He was 81.

Mr. Wood retired from his position as Secretary-Manager of the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council in 1985, finishing the final chapter in a union membership book that was opened more than 50 years ago.

"People in the industry still talk about Jack and asked how he's doing," said current Greater Detroit Building Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Devlin. "Jack served the building trades for a long time, and he had so many contacts with CEOs and government leaders. I admire his work; he was truly a legend."

Born in Clare, Jack was raised on a farm after being orphaned at age five. His father died when he was 10 weeks old. He first joined the Carpenters out of Local 232 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was a "boomer" in his early days in the carpenter trade, which was interrupted by his service in World War II as a combat marine in the South Pacific.

In 1946, Mr. Wood "settled down" and transferred his union membership to Mt. Clemens Carpenters Local 674, where the roots of his rise in the labor movement were planted. He served Local 674 as a trustee and president before being elected business agent.

He served the Detroit Carpenters District Council for four terms before being elected to the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council in 1964. Jack held the council seat for an unprecedented seven consecutive terms and was never opposed for re-election.

"He was very proud of his history with the unions, and even in his retirement, my dad still kept an eye on the industry," said his son Steven. "He hated the idea of seeing the nonunion getting the work that they're getting. But he was also pleased with all the work going on now and how unions are marketing themselves."

Highly respected by both labor and employer representatives in the Detroit area, Jack strove for harmonious labor-management relationships. He recognized the need to minimize jurisdictional disputes in the complicated construction industry, while advocating unity among all the trade union crafts.

"It was a pleasure to work with Jack, he was an absolutely honorable man," said Associated General Contractors Detroit Chapter Vice President John Maas, who has been in the business for 40 years. "He set a new standard for relations with the contractor and owner communities. I highly regarded and respected him and he had a major impact on my life."

Mr. Wood was predeceased by wife Phyllis, and a son, John David. He is survived by son Steven, two grandsons and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Harold Vick Funeral Home in Mt. Clemens. Burial took place in Clare.

"Jack was never a showboat, he just got the job done," said Mack Cehanowicz, a business agent under Mr. Wood. "If he was asked to help settle a strike or some other labor dispute, he always went to the top of the company, and he always got results. Business leaders worked with him because they trusted him."

Jack Wood 1919-2000