IBEW Local 124 Business Manager Bo Moreno, left, and his late father, Brother John Bonifacio Moreno Jr., right.
There are very few things in this existence harder than losing a parent. However, it’s important we pay homage, reverence, and respect to the legacy they leave behind. Especially someone who led the way for others and the future for an industry.
John Bonifacio Moreno Jr. was born on September 19th, 1947, to Dolores and John Moreno, who was born in McAllen, Texas to migrant workers from Mexico. Dolores was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. He spent his childhood in the modest surroundings of the East Bottoms of Kansas City, MO. While he was a somewhat rambunctious youth, all that changed August 15th of 1965 at a CYO dance at St. Ann’s catholic church. There he met a beautiful young woman named JoAnn Wiederkehr. As you can imagine from the last name – not to mention the era at that time – it was a bit of a change of pace for this young ladies’ family from Independence, MO.
While grandpa was a bit leery of this teen who resembled a young James Brown, that changed very quickly after Joe & Imogene got to know him. After dating for some time, he received a certified letter from the United States Army. John B Moreno was drafted on October 28th, 1966. Even while being stationed in other states, mom always wrote to him and went to visit. Then in December of 1967, he received word he was being deployed to the war in Vietnam. While they had planned a wedding in January, that date was moved up. On December 26th of 1967, they were married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Independence, MO.
Every combat veteran knows the pains of war, but my father fought for his country bravely and with honor. He served as a Recon Sergeant on a 3-man Forward Observer team which was attached to a Fourth Division infantry unit in the central highlands, and he fought in the TET offensive. When he returned to the states he had earned many accommodations – these include:
Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Civil Action Palm Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/1968 Device, Bronze Star with V for Valor, Army Commendation Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Ribbon, Sharpshooter Badge w/Rifle Bar, a Combat Infantry Badge w/Red Background for Artillery, and a Purple Heart.
As he transitioned back into civilian life, he applied for multiple skilled union trades, one of which was his top choice of electrician. At that time, many Union trades were very selective about who they admitted into their ranks. They mostly consisted of generations of family names or close acquaintances. Through affirmative action, IBEW Local Union 124 admitted their first African/American in 1968. That man’s name was Larry T Wright. Then in 1969, John B Moreno Jr became the first Mexican/American admitted into IBEW Local Union 124.
While both Larry and he were accepted by some members, others weren’t as open. A fact that pains me to say – a member stood in this very union hall and made the statement to the membership, “It’d be a cold day in hell before I call any Mexican or Black my Brother!” Except the exact phrasing was a little less proper. Regardless, both persevered. In fact, the member who said that later came back and apologized to each of them.
They started a family as well and had six children. During the fifteen years he worked in the IBEW, John Moreno never missed one of his children’s events. Whether it was baseball, girl scouts, Boy Scouts, softball, basketball, wrestling, plays or art shows – he was there. Not only did he attend these events, many of them he either coached or was a volunteer leader. You could always count on him. Dad was also very involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He went from Cub Scoutmaster to troop leader to commissioner. During that time, he helped many family members achieve the rank of Eagle – including myself. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 221 in Independence for over 40 years and loved his summers at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation and achieved the rank of Sachem in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, an honor camping program. He was also a member of the Order of the Arrow and received the Bronze Pelican and George Meany Awards.
Work was very slow in many of these years and like many other wiremen, he ended up going over at General Motors as an Electrician/WEMR. He was employed there for 28 years, working at 4 plants during this time including Leeds in Kansas City, MO, Wentzville in St Louis, MO, Fort Wayne, IN, and Fairfax in KCK. In 1994, I became a second-generation member of IBEW LU 124. I watch my mostly stoic father with misty eyes stand there in silence. I asked him why he was emotional. He looked at me and smiled. “You don’t understand, son. When I walked into this room, they didn’t want us…now we’re ‘Blue Blood’…and they can never take that away.”
Dad retired from GM and went back into the field with the IBEW. I had the pleasure of working several jobs with him including Itan powerhouse in Weston, MO and Baldwin powerhouse in Illinois. He retired in 2013, and this year marked his 55th year in IBEW Local 124. In July of 2021, I called my father to tell him that I was the new Business Manager of IBEW Local 124. The joy he felt was beyond explanation. His pride didn’t stop there. He went on to watch two nephews (Bryce, Billy Crain) and his grandson (Drake Leighton-Floyd) also become members of the IBEW. That’s five generations of Local 124.
The summer of 2021, dad was diagnosed with cancer. A little less than a month later, he caught a severe case of Covid and was hospitalized for over two months. This delayed cancer treatments and the damage to his lungs was extensive. He now required oxygen for everyday activities. This, however, didn’t stop him from attending his grandson’s sporting events, granddaughters dance recitals, softball games or monthly union meetings.
Dad fought bravely for over three and a half years, but sadly it wasn’t enough.
John B Moreno left this earth on Thursday, November 21st surrounded by his wife JoAnn and family holding him. As hours passed, each had a chance to privately say our goodbyes to him – letting him know all he had done for them and how truly loved he was. This one man had affected so many lives. Dad was surrounded by a room full of people…all made possible because of John & JoAnn. Whether it was by blood or marriage, they brought them all to this moment. This man born from an immigrant mother who found the courage to ask a pretty brown-haired girl to dance. Served his country in war, was one of the trailblazers to open the door for diversity in the union skilled trades and dedicating his life to the Scouting ways. He was a hero to every person in that room. A man with integrity, honor and strength. A man that will never be forgotten.
You can rest now father…your work is done.
