Emily and her twin brother Gilbert, hold the distinction of being the only African American children to be born at the Deerfield, Illinois Army Base military hospital. “I know we’re the only two because we were the first, and the hospital closed shortly after we were born,” she recalled with a chuckle. Her dad was in the Army and served in Korea. She’s an Army vet, and so are two brothers, one who served in the 101st Airborne and one in the U.S. Navy. Emily has a regal education, holding a nurse’s degree and a degree in Fine Arts from The Art Institute of Chicago.
After her mother died in a tragic car accident, Emily came to New York to pursue a career in fashion. She worked as an usher in the theater, eventually worked on sound, lights, sets and finally as an assistant wardrobe designer.
But she needed a steady job and got one at NYCT as a Railroad Clerk. She served as a shop steward and was a member of the TA Emerald Society. Emily has been sewing for 55 years.
Yvonne has been a loyal member of the Retirees Association for 30 years since retiring on a disability pension after a violent assault on the job by a homeless man sent her flying down a flight of subway stairs at the World Trade Center Station. The assault caused permanent damage to her knee and a recurring back issue. Yvonne was born in Jacksonville, FL and became familiar with New York during summer trips north with her sister. She moved here permanently in the early 50’s, where she graduated from Curtis High School in Staten Island in 1955. She attended the College of Staten Island, Touro College, and nursing school in Brooklyn. Before transit, she worked for New York Telephone, as a Licensed Practical Nurse and as a Physician’s Assistant.
Since retirement, she has been active with the Retirees Association, the National Council of Negro Women, the NAACP and with the St. Philips Baptist Church in Station Island. She is a grandmother to two and has a great grandson. She has been on the Retirees Association Executive Board since 2012.
Angelo began working for Transit in May 1970 as a Helper ‘A’ in the Lighting Department in Maintenance of Way. He is a strong union supporter and has attended “every meeting and rally with our Union to fight to keep our health benefits, raises, pensions and safety on the job.” He first worked at East Broadway, then 14th Street, 99th Street and then picked 168th St, where he retired in 2004 and has been a loyal member of the RA since then. After retirement, Angelo has volunteered his services to the Local. Says Angelo, “it's important to be at all meetings and have your voices heard or give your suggestions on how to continue to fight the MTA.”
Delores started in 1974 as a Railroad Clerk and was on the job less than 6 months when a perp “stuck a gun in my face and demanded money,” at the 207th Street station. “I started screaming and he started running,” said Delores. In 1990, Delores began a new career as an armed Collecting Agent. “Now I had the gun,” she said. She worked for a time on the Money Train, but called the Hollywood version of the Money Train, starring J-Lo, Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, “entertaining, but not reality.”
Though born and raised in Brooklyn, she went to the HS of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. “I wanted to be a dress maker,” she recalled Delores.
She earned a BA in Urban Studies from Fordham with a degree in Urban Studies, but when Transit called with a good union job, she took it anbd looked back. Delores served as a Section Officer for brother and sister Collecting Agents. She walked the picket at the 100th Street depot during the 1980 strike. She has been on the Retirees Board since 2006.
Kevin was born in Queens and went to Aviation High School and Saint Francis College in Brooklyn. His father and grandfathers all worked for the Transit Authority and he joined the family tradition as a Brooklyn bus cleaner in 1981.
In 1984 he was promoted to Train Operator in the “A” Division (IRT). All this time he was a Shop Steward. In 1992 he participated in a massive work slowdown against forced pick changes. In 2005, the MTA tried to have Kevin removed from train operation because of a uniform violation. The case resulted in victory and uniform changes ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
In 2005 he participated in the City-wide transit strike and was a Woodlawn picket captain. In 2006 he was elected as Vice-Chair of “A” Division Train Operators. In 2009 he was elected as Vice-President of RTO for Train operators, Conductors and Tower Operators.
He also served as Chair of the TWU Veterans Committee, during which time the Union successfully lobbied for the Veterans Equality Act that allowed all Veterans to participate in the pension service credit buy back. The Bill was written by NY State Senator William Larkin at the Veteran’s Committee request. In 2015 Kevin retired and still lives in the Bronx. He was named head of the RA’s new Political Action Committee in 2021.
Terrance Harmon, a retired MABSTOA Bus Operator, Depot Officer and Division officer, was named to the Retirees Association Executive Board on April 27, 2023.
He retired in 2020 after a 28 year career at Kingsbridge, Hudson Pier, and Tuskegee, his last depot before retirement.
He worked as a Shifter prior to retirement.
Terrance is a lifelong New Yorker. He was born and raised in Brooklyn and attended George Westinghouse HS on Tillary Street.
After graduating, he and two friends from school enlisted in the U.S. Army. Terrance served for nearly 10 years, and served two tours overseas in Germany at Army Bases near Frankfurt. He served in the Field Artillery Division. He joined the MTA after leaving the military.
He was elected multiple times to union office and served as a Chief Line Steward, Depot Vice Chair and OA Division 1 Vice Chair.
He lives in Queens and has a “snowbird” home in Viera, FL not far from the Kennedy Space Center. He said that when rockets are launched “not only can you see and hear it, it can make the house shake.”
He has three children, a son and two daughters.
Earnest started with Transit in February 1970 as a Bus Operator at West Farms Depot in the Bronx. He worked at Walnut and Hudson Pier as well. He also drove the MABSTOA money truck, retiring in 1995. He served on the Labor Management Team form 1990-1993. He walked the picket line during the 1980 strike along the West Side Highway at the Pier.
He is originally from Mullins, South Carolina, a town about 30 miles from Myrtle Beach. He left home to come to the big city after graduating high school at age 17. Before transit, he worked as a shipping clerk and a printer. He has been a member of the Retiree Association since retirement and has been on the Board since 2019.
Randolph brings valuable experience in organizing, political action in the community and Albany, and grass roots political work to the RA. He joined transit in 1980 as a Car Inspector after working for the venerable Seatrain Lines Shipping and Shipbuilding company from 1973-1978 as a quality control inspector.
He graduated George Westinghouse Technical HS in Brooklyn and studied electrical engineering at NYC Community College. He also attended the Murphy College of Labor and Urban Studies.
Randolph was the elected Chair of the Car Equipment Division from 1990-1994. He was assigned to the Local’s PAC team in 1995 and was a member of the Election Committee from 1995-2002. He worked on President O’Bama’s first presidential run in 2008. He retired in 2007 and has been a member of the Retirees Association since.
Frank comes out of the old Steinway Transit Company in 1971 and was Vice Chairman for a number of years in the 1970's. Steinway Transit merged with Queens Transit and became Queens Surface Transit In 1986. After retiring in 2004 he joined the Queens Private Bus Lines Retirees Association (QPBLRA) and became a Liaison between the Queens Private Bus Lines retirees and the retirees from TWU Local 100 Retirees Association. Shortly after, he became President of the QPBLRA and then became a member of the TWU Retirees Executive Board and urged QPBLRA members to join the TWU Local 100 Retirees Association.
Frank is a member of the Plainview Fire Department for nearly three decades years. He is a certified EMT, reached the rank of Captain and held the office of Commissioner for 10 years. He is now a member of the Plainview Fire Police and Vice President of the Plainview Fire Department Benevolent Association. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Lodge #6911.
Dominick is one of the youngsters on the Board at age 66. He started as a Signal Maintainer in the Maintenance of Way department in 1979 and worked mostly in Brooklyn. He retired in 2009 after 30 years on the job. He represented his fellow workers as a shop steward; a Section Officer for BMT Signals and as Division Vice Chair from 1999 until retirement. He recalls taking the transit test in 1973 during the city’s fiscal crisis. He waited 6 years to be called. He studied electrical technology at Staten Island Community College. He’s been on the Retirees Executive Board since 2018.