History of IBEW Local Union 480

 

Local 480 was first chartered in Charleston, WV on February 1, 1906, where it subsequently lasted 2 years and became non-operational in May, 1908.  From Charleston, WV, Local 480 was chartered in Portland, OR on June 11, 1912, and was there until they were merged with Local 317 to form Local 48 on May 21, 1913.  The  charter was reissued to Marshall, TX on May 3, 1921 where it became non-operational in September, 1922.

 

          On March 29, 1927, Local Union 480, Jackson, MS was officially established with the signing of the Charter by then IBEW President James P. Noonan and IBEW Secretary Gustave M. Bugniazet.  The original Local 480 Officers on the Charter are as follows:

 

                   B. L. Haves                               T. J. Bullion, Jr.

                   C. L. Horton                             W. A. Moses

C. E. Bardwell                          Roy Frizell

Pat Biggs                                  O. T. “Claude” Blackmon

J. T. “Red” Martin                    A. U. Tompkins

 

          The first home for Local 480, Jackson, Mississippi was in a motor rewinding shop on State Street.  The second home was an office space on the second floor above the Walgreen’s Drug Store located then at Capitol Street and Lamar Street, across the street from South Central Bell.  The third home was in the Carpenter’s Labor Temple on State Street.  The fourth home was in an old house on Rankin Street.  The fifth home for Local Union 480 was 230 W. Rankin Street, the first owned building.  The fifth home and our present location is 4767 I-55 South, Jackson, Mississippi.

 

The Charter is proudly displayed in our Meeting Hall.  Local Union 480 has been a growing and thriving force in the Central Mississippi Labor movement for over 80 years.  With the  history of our organization and our Local Union 480, we have a responsibility to those that left it to us and those that follow behind us of passing it on better and stronger than we found it.