Obituary for Horace Eric Bounds
The Legacy of Horace Eric Bounds (8/1/1928 – 8/13/2019)
Horace passed away on August 13, 2019 at the age of 91. He passed comfortably, peacefully and unexpectedly in his home, with family in the home.
Horace was born to Fred Bounds and Mattie Mae (Dossett) Bounds on August 1, 1928, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Lamar County. He was the third and only surviving child, following his sisters Cleo and Hortense who died as toddlers of complicated illnesses. Sixteen years later Horace had a brother, James Monty Bounds, who passed away on February 4, 2011.
Fred, who was a union electrician, and Mattie moved from Mississippi to Houston, TX for work when Horace was a boy. When Horace was diagnosed with asthma his family decided to move to the arid Arizona desert in hopes to find relief for their son. Horace attended Tucson High School, where he met his wife, Marion (Monier) Bounds. Horace followed his father’s footsteps and completed both the house wireman and journeyman apprenticeship programs.
Horace joined the electrical union 70 years ago. During that time, his accomplishments included
IBEW Local 570 - Examining Board Member 2 yrs.
Executive Board Member 1 yr.
Treasurer 2 yrs.
President 1 yr.
Chairman and Administrator, Health and Warfare Fund
Trustee of IBEW 570 and 518 Saguaro Chapter NECA, Pension Trust Fund
Business Manager and Financial Secretary for 20 ¾ years. Business Manager represented and negotiated for members employed in Inside Construction, Outside Construction, Residential, Utility, Government employees, Sound, Radio, and Television, Electrical Maintenance, Manufacturing and the Copper Industry.
State and Local - President and executive Board Member of AZ State AFL-CIO
President and Vice President of AZ State Association of Electrical Workers
Member Appeals Tribunal of AZ State Employment Security Commission
Southern AZ President and Executive Board Member of Southern AZ Building and
Construction Trades Council
Editor, Southern AZ Labor Review
National Member of Code Making Panel #3 of the National Electrical Code (an American Standard of the National Fire Protection Association)
Member of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry
IBEW Codes and standards Committee
City of Tucson Director, Development Authority for Tucson Economy (DATE)
Secretary, Tucson Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee
Director, Board #2 of the National Electrical Benefit Fund
Ward Committee, Democratic Party
Precinct Committeeman, Democratic Party, Pima County
Board of Directors, St. Elizabeth of Hungry
Board of Directors, Child Guidance Clinic
Board of Directors, Pima County Family Service Agency
Board of Directors, Tucson United Community Campaign
Teacher of Electronics, Tucson Adult Vocational Evening School
Horace enlisted in the Army during WWII and was honorably discharged on 9/11/1946. He received a letter from President Harry Truman reading, “To you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation….”
On 12/22/1976 Horace held a private pilot’s license. At that time, he was sent as a representative to the Democratic Convention, he ran for Tucson City Council, he was a long-term volunteer for the St Vincent de Paul Society, receiving an award for service as he took food to the hungry and poor. Horace was dubbed a knight of the Knights of Columbus. Horace was honored for his extraordinary commitment to Tucson’s Homeless by the Primavera Foundation for contribution to the shelter project. From 1959 – 1972 Horace was a teacher for the Adult Evening School. Horace assisted Morris Udall as he gained the Senate Seat of Arizona. On April 9, 1973 Horace and Marion were honored at the First Annual Award Dinner for the Arizona Trade Union Council for Histatrut, celebrating Israel’s 25th Anniversary. He received a letter from Josef Almogi stating, “I want to take this opportunity to express your co-operation in assisting the State of Israel as this important hour through the United Jewish Appeal.”
But his family believes his greatest accomplishment was in the little ways he helped the indigent and outcast and fought for social justice and equal rights.
Horace passed away on August 13, 2019 at the age of 91. He passed comfortably, peacefully and unexpectedly in his home, with family in the home.
Horace was born to Fred Bounds and Mattie Mae (Dossett) Bounds on August 1, 1928, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Lamar County. He was the third and only surviving child, following his sisters Cleo and Hortense who died as toddlers of complicated illnesses. Sixteen years later Horace had a brother, James Monty Bounds, who passed away on February 4, 2011.
Fred, who was a union electrician, and Mattie moved from Mississippi to Houston, TX for work when Horace was a boy. When Horace was diagnosed with asthma his family decided to move to the arid Arizona desert in hopes to find relief for their son. Horace attended Tucson High School, where he met his wife, Marion (Monier) Bounds. Horace followed his father’s footsteps and completed both the house wireman and journeyman apprenticeship programs.
Horace joined the electrical union 70 years ago. During that time, his accomplishments included
IBEW Local 570 - Examining Board Member 2 yrs.
Executive Board Member 1 yr.
Treasurer 2 yrs.
President 1 yr.
Chairman and Administrator, Health and Warfare Fund
Trustee of IBEW 570 and 518 Saguaro Chapter NECA, Pension Trust Fund
Business Manager and Financial Secretary for 20 ¾ years. Business Manager represented and negotiated for members employed in Inside Construction, Outside Construction, Residential, Utility, Government employees, Sound, Radio, and Television, Electrical Maintenance, Manufacturing and the Copper Industry.
State and Local - President and executive Board Member of AZ State AFL-CIO
President and Vice President of AZ State Association of Electrical Workers
Member Appeals Tribunal of AZ State Employment Security Commission
Southern AZ President and Executive Board Member of Southern AZ Building and
Construction Trades Council
Editor, Southern AZ Labor Review
National Member of Code Making Panel #3 of the National Electrical Code (an American Standard of the National Fire Protection Association)
Member of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry
IBEW Codes and standards Committee
City of Tucson Director, Development Authority for Tucson Economy (DATE)
Secretary, Tucson Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee
Director, Board #2 of the National Electrical Benefit Fund
Ward Committee, Democratic Party
Precinct Committeeman, Democratic Party, Pima County
Board of Directors, St. Elizabeth of Hungry
Board of Directors, Child Guidance Clinic
Board of Directors, Pima County Family Service Agency
Board of Directors, Tucson United Community Campaign
Teacher of Electronics, Tucson Adult Vocational Evening School
Horace enlisted in the Army during WWII and was honorably discharged on 9/11/1946. He received a letter from President Harry Truman reading, “To you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation….”
On 12/22/1976 Horace held a private pilot’s license. At that time, he was sent as a representative to the Democratic Convention, he ran for Tucson City Council, he was a long-term volunteer for the St Vincent de Paul Society, receiving an award for service as he took food to the hungry and poor. Horace was dubbed a knight of the Knights of Columbus. Horace was honored for his extraordinary commitment to Tucson’s Homeless by the Primavera Foundation for contribution to the shelter project. From 1959 – 1972 Horace was a teacher for the Adult Evening School. Horace assisted Morris Udall as he gained the Senate Seat of Arizona. On April 9, 1973 Horace and Marion were honored at the First Annual Award Dinner for the Arizona Trade Union Council for Histatrut, celebrating Israel’s 25th Anniversary. He received a letter from Josef Almogi stating, “I want to take this opportunity to express your co-operation in assisting the State of Israel as this important hour through the United Jewish Appeal.”
But his family believes his greatest accomplishment was in the little ways he helped the indigent and outcast and fought for social justice and equal rights.