Bob Keil oral history interview, March 20, 2013

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: KeilB_L2013-06

Staff Only

Bob Keil oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Traci Drummond. Keil begins by discussing growing up on a farm in Quincy, IL and the accidental drowning of his three brothers. He recalls joining the Illinois National Guard and serving in Korea as an automotive mechanic. Keil discusses working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1958 as a machinist and talks about the various projects at Oak Ridge, including the Manhattan Project. He discusses his positions of shop steward and chief steward as well as serving as bid officer for the Atomic Trades and Labor Commission. Keil talks about his position of the vice president of Local Lodge 480, handling grievances as vice president of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council (ATLC) and the strikes that occurred while president of the ATLC. Keil talks about now union participation influenced his life and recounts the most satisfying part of his union involvement.

Dates

Creation: March 20, 2013

Creator

Keil, Bob, 1932- (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Bob Keil was born in Quincy, IL in 1932, where his parents made their living as farmers, raising corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, and hogs. In 1951, he joined the Illinois National Guard and his division was activated to serve in the Korean War, where he worked as an auto mechanic. He married Harriet Jean, his wife of sixty years, in 1952. Keil began working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1958 as a machinist, joining the IAMAW in 1959. He became shop steward in 1962 and then was elected chief steward in 1965. He also served as job bid officer for the Atomic Trades and Labor Commission and vice president of the Local Lodge 480. Keil also served as trustee of the Oak Ridge Labor Council and after his retirement, vice president of the Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees. After his retirement, he has been active as vice president of the Oak Ridge Coalition of Retired Employees.