I.B.E.W. Local 104 News Archives
Memorial Service for William Hicks
LUDLOW - William J. "Bill" Hicks, 76, of Naples,
Fla., and formerly of Ludlow, died Dec. 25, 2009,
at home with pulmonary fibrosis.
He was born July 5, 1933, in Somerville, Mass., son of the late James P. and Alice (Brown) Hicks. He attended Somerville vocational school and Reading High School, leaving before graduation to enter the U.S. Navy in November 1950. After exiting the Navy in 1954, he resided in Reading, Mass., working for local electrical contractors. In 1963, he started his first electrical contracting company, Hicks Electric Co. He formed a second company, Power Line Constructors, in 1973.
Mr. Hicks was a master electrician licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 in Boston since 1957. He was a member of the Northeastern Line Constructors Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, serving on its Board of Directors and as president for 17 years.
He also served on the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for a number of years, and acted as chairman of the Joint Health Welfare Pension committee for Locals 42 and 104 and other unions for 25 years.
He was inducted into the Academy of Electrical Contracting by his peers in 1999 in honor of his service to the electrical contracting industry.
After retirement in 2004, Mr. Hicks lived in Naples, Fla., but considered Ludlow to be his real home.
He was a member of American Legion Post 36 in Ludlow and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7369 in Naples, Fla.
He enjoyed entertaining friends and family, business, traveling, cooking, golfing, dancing, reading history books, painting and drawing, fishing, skiing and flying single-engine aircraft.
He was a member of the Marco Island, Fla., Community Church.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Barbara A. (Martello) Hicks; three sons, James P., Thomas W. and Kenneth D.; two daughters, Kathleen A .DeFelice and Maureen J. Quale; stepdaughter, Julie A. Mullen; two brothers, John "Jack" Hicks and Robert Hicks; two sisters, Barbara Butler and Carol Aukstikalnis; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; many nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara L. (Stone) Hicks, and brother Arthur D. Hicks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vt. and N.H., PO Box 976, White River Junction VT 05001 or The American Legion Color Guard, Post 36, Ludlow VT 05149.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 21, at the Pleasant View Cemetery. The service will be conducted by Post 36 Ludlow American Legion Color Guard. A reception and celebration of life will follow at DJ's restaurant on Main Street in Ludlow. All of his friends are invited.
Arrangements are being handled by the Adams and Kenney Funeral Home in Ludlow.
View the guest book at www.rutlandherald.com/obits.
Published in Rutland Herald on May 15, 2010
