Bob Abbott (left) gets
inducted into the Chicago PCA Hall of Fame by outgoing president Al Gerhke.
The Plumbing
Contractors Association of Chicago and Cook County (Chicago PCA) inducted contractor
Robert Abbott and former UA Local 130 Business Manager Jerry Sullivan as the most recent inductees into the Chicago Area Plumbing
Industry Hall of Fame.
Abbott founded Abbott Industries in 1973 as a plumbing contractor that has put
its mark on numerous Chicago area landmark projects. He is also an industry
leader who has spent countless hours attracting young people to the mechanical
trades, and is a donor/contributor to numerous charities.
Sullivan began his career as a plumbing apprentice in 1955 and later spent 16
years as an instructor teaching an estimated 2,000 plumbers subjects that
included drawing, math, service and shop work. He rose through union ranks to
became head of Local 130 in 1990 and stayed in that position until his
retirement in 2002.
The Chicago Area Plumbing Hall of Fame was started in 2004 with 20 individuals
being inducted. Induction ceremonies are held every other year in conjunction
with the installation of new officers. Two additional persons were named to the
Hall of Fame in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
The ceremony took place at the Chicago PCA’s Installation Dinner, Jan. 23. Jerry Roberts was inducted
to a two-year term as new president of the Chicago PCA. He is the owner and
founder of JSR Enterprises, a specialty contractor serving
commercial-industrial-institutional markets.
JimOlsztynski Jim Olsztynski is the former editorial director of Plumbing & Mechanical.