Boots on the wall

Steamfitter Billy Fex—Boots on the Red Wing Wall of Honor.

From the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island to the National Air and Space Museum’s Wall of Honor in Chantilly, Va., walls have commemorated many important events. While it may not be as well-known as others, the Red Wing Shoe Co. Wall of Honor is equally important. It pays tribute to the skilled workers who are at the very heart of life as we know it. It also offers some examples of just how important personal protective equipment can be in terms of worker comfort and health.

The massive, boot-laden Wall of Honor was unveiled in March 2018 in the company’s flagship store in Red Wing, Minn., and can be viewed online here. According to Chief Marketing Officer Dave Schneider, the wall was one of the first ideas that surfaced after he joined the company in 2014. Schneider said, “I quickly learned that we have received letters of appreciation for decades from our consumers sharing how our footwear made a positive difference in their lives. Some individuals even returned their boots to our headquarters; they couldn’t bear to throw them away after forming an emotional connection to their boots because of the grueling and meaningful work completed in them.

“These stories are seldom celebrated today, and the Wall of Honor is our way of recognizing the tradespeople who quietly build the world around us and sharing their stories. Similar to how Hollywood honors actors and actresses at the Oscars, or how Cooperstown celebrates baseball players, the Wall of Honor is our attempt to pay tribute to skilled trades.”

To solicit stories, Schneider said the company puts out a call through a press release, its social media channels, and an email to its customer base. It also sets out signage in its retail stores. Within a few months, nearly 600 entries were received.

How were winners selected? “Narrowing down the stories was not an easy task, since we received so many amazing submissions,” said Schneider. “We received stories from all over the country and almost every trade. We heard from carpenters, pipefitters, electricians, arborists, farmers, oil drillers, freight train conductors, and many more. The intent was to identify the most ‘epic’ stories, and the boots that were being worn at the time. Based on that guiding principle, 35 stories stood out because they all represent a deep commitment to their work.”

Among the 35 honorees are Billy Fex, a steamfitter from California, and J.V. Cannon, a construction welder from Poolville, Texas. Here are their stories, along with the special story of Tom McCarthy, a pipefitter/steamfitter who died a few years ago.

Billy Fex—Steamfitter, Santa Ana, Calif.

Heaping praise on his boots, Billy Fex said, “I’ve worn Red Wings for 15 years. As a Local 250 union steamfitter, I believe in buying American-made. I tried some other brands, but they just don’t compare. These are tough, tough boots. I’ve worn them through miles of mud. I’ve had hot slag from welded pipe drip on them and fresh asphalt stick to the soles. I’ve had screws stuck in the heels. My feet have always stayed safe.

“I’ve worked all over L.A., from USC and UCLA to the second-largest crime lab at Cal State L.A. But out of all my jobs, I’m proudest of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. It’s a six-story facility with thousands of feet of pipe. We ran water lines and steam lines. We brazed copper. And we even helped set the cooling towers in place. I walked 20,000 steps a day, easy, for three and a half years. That’s one marathon every two days, all on stairs. I’m a foreman, and I have to be everywhere at once.

“Extra attention was paid to make everything perfect, just like it should be. It was really rewarding. I see the hospital all the time. When I drive by, I look at it and think, ‘I helped build that. And they are saving kids’ lives every day.’”

J.V. Cannon—Construction Welder, Poolville, Texas

Sixty-year-old J.V. Cannon started out as a boilermaker and then got into ironworking, specializing in metal buildings, oilrigs, and hospitals.

Construction welder J.V. Cannon—Boots on the Red Wing Wall of Honor.

In his submission, Cannon said, “I bought my first pair of Red Wings for construction on the Ballpark at Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, in the early '90s. Those boots felt right on my feet that whole job. I hooked up cranes and did lots of welding, working way up high. Everyone who did construction signed a metal beam that now hangs above a main entrance. I didn’t follow the Rangers before that job, but I’m a fan now.

“I also did construction and ironworking for two massive roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas: Mr. Freeze and Titan. The whole crew gave it 110 percent for six days a week until the job was done. We were thanked for our work with a day of endless rides on Titan before it opened to the public. My son got in at least 15, but four was enough for me.

“But those rides were nothing compared to what happened to me about two years ago. I was doing welding work on a 1,350-lb. metal curved yoke when it suddenly fell off the table, bounced off the concrete floor, and landed on both my feet. It took a crane to get that yoke off them.

“Luckily, my Red Wings had both steel toes and metal guards over the top of my feet. I thought I was going to lose my toes, but I’m walking today. And to my amazement, my boots were no worse for the wear.”

Tom McCarthy—Steamfitter-Pipefitter, St. Paul, Minn.

Posthumous honoree Tom McCarthy’ story speaks to the tradition often associated with work in the trades as being passed down through generations. It also illustrates the pride these workers have in their craft and work ethic.

Tom’s last pair of Red Wings boots, said to be the 45th pair he owned, rest in a time capsule 3 feet below what now is center ice at Xcel Center in St. Paul, Minn. As the story goes, “Tom took those same boots on a hiking trip to Ireland in 1991. He planned to retire them in some meaningful way when he got back to Minnesota, as a tribute to his 45-year career as a steamfitter-pipefitter and all of the hardworking people he met in the trades.

“Back home, Tom mentioned his plans to his son-in-law, a tradesman who was working construction for the new hockey arena being built for the Minnesota Wild NHL team. Tom, a longtime sports fan and avid supporter of local tradespeople, knew right away he had found the place to retire his boots.

“On August 8, 1999, Tom walked to the center of the construction site and buried a cardboard box containing his boots and a retirement card from the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Sprinkler Fitters. The box is labeled ‘Big Mac’s Boots,’ with the interment date written beneath those words.

“Tom’s craft was in his blood. He was a self-described ‘third-generation Irish blue-collar worker,’ a devoted leader and tireless advocate for the people of Local 455, who followed in the footsteps of his father (also named Tom McCarthy) and Uncle Gerald O’Donnell. All three were journeymen pipefitters, Minnesota advocates, and elected officials of Local 455. Tom passed down his passion for hard work to his nine children, 21 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, many of whom now work in the trades.

“During his career, Tom worked on projects ranging from the World Trade Center in St. Paul to several nuclear power plants. He also was an apprentice trainer for 23 years, developing a reputation as a tough but fair instructor who saw to it that young people learned the trades the right way.

“Tom had a favorite motto: ‘Know where your head, hands, and heart are.’ He always knew where his boots were too. When he took them off after work, he would lace them back up with care and set them in the exact same location. They were as much a part of his uniform as his thermos and lunchbox.

Steamfitter-pipefitter Tom McCarthy wearing his Red Wing boots in Ireland.

“Tom proudly paid his union dues right up to the day he passed. His wish was to be cremated. His son, also a pipefitter, built him an urn out of pipes that was fit for a king.”

Tom, Billy, and J.V. represent the many skilled tradespeople who go to work every day to build lasting testaments to their passion and ability—structures and products that enrich our lives. The Red Wing Shoe Co. is to be applauded for acknowledging their efforts and contributions.

If you would like to submit a story for consideration, you may do so here.

All images courtesy of the Red Wing Shoe Company.

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