Jim Bowen had a voice that made people listen. It also was a voice that made people feel included and appreciated.

“He had a dynamic voice,” said John Saunders, staff representative for District 1 of the United Steelworkers. “He was a great speaker.”

That voice went silent Tuesday, as Bowen – the former West Virginia AFL-CIO President and former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. board member who dedicated his life and career to assisting working men and women across the state of West Virginia and the entire nation – passed away Tuesday at the age of 87.

Bowen served as president of the WV AFL-CIO from 1997 to 2004. He was remembered as someone who fought hard for the rights of working people, but did so while maintaining the respect of the people on the other side of the bargaining table.

“Jim was a good guy,” Saunders said. “He was a guy who could relate to both sides. Jim knew what it took to make a deal and did it with class.

“Jim lived in the Ohio Valley, understood this valley,” he added, “and knew that the jobs in aluminum and steel and manufacturing that the United Steelworkers represented were a vital part of the economy of this valley.”

Bowen was an active member of the United Steelworkers of America for 42 years, a full-time International Representative for 32 years, and had been involved with the West Virginia AFL-CIO since 1965. Before becoming president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, Jim served as a vice-president, both for the West Virginia and the Ohio AFL-CIOs.

“I struggle to put into words how important Jim Bowen has been to the labor movement here in West Virginia,” said WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword. “He was a mentor to me and so many others who strive to help workers secure good paying, safe jobs and have a powerful voice in the workplace.”

Kenny Perdue, who was president of the WV AFL-CIO from 2004 until his retirement in 2016, was secretary-treasurer during Jim’s tenure as president.

“Jim Bowen was a force of nature,” Perdue said. “He was known for his booming, deep voice that would not only be heard loud and clear among the countless rallies and protests, but also in the halls of the Statehouse, where he tirelessly fought for laws to protect and respect working people.”

“Jim often cited 10 two-letter words: ‘If it is to be, it is up to us.'”

“Jim made you feel good,” Saunders said. “When he bargained, he made you feel part of the bargaining. And that was important, because we were trying to keep companies alive.”

Bowen also served on numerous committees in West Virginia government, including the Port Authority, Judicial Selection Committee, Labor-Management Advisory Committee, Children’s Task Force Committee, Hospital Finance Authority, Steel Advisory Commission, Kid’s Chance of West Virginia Committee, and Steel Futures Corporation. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation and a National Committeeman from West Virginia on the Democratic National Committee.

Sword recalled recently discussing with Jim the 30-year anniversary of the nearly two-year lockout at Ravenswood Aluminum Corporation of the members of the United Steelworkers Local 5668, who won the long-fought dispute. Some 1,700 workers were locked out, after the company refused to listen to concerns over health and safety, despite the fact several workers at the plant had died from severe heat exhaustion during the summer of 1990.

Bowen was one of the main contract negotiators.

“Jim said there are five qualities that led to their victory: labor solidarity, community support, bravery, creativity and perseverance,” Sword said. “That sums up how Jim conducted himself throughout his career. He never gave up, and he inspires all of us to live up to his unwavering standards.”