HE was affectionately known to everyone as “Joe”. This gentle giant’s lifelong adventure as trade unionist, journalist and politician covered more than six decades of service and devotion to his chosen fields. He became a real source of pride to his family, his colleagues, and to our nation.

The passing of Joe McPherson on Tuesday, March 14, at age 87, is truly the end of an era. His footsteps on the sands of time would have interacted with other giants like Lynden Newland, Ken Hill, his brother Frank Hill, and Everrod Williams — whose skill and versatility in the triangular sphere of trade unionism, journalism and politics became a hallmark of their illustrious careers that established standards for which this country became a most gracious beneficiary.

McPherson died after ailing for some time.

His easy-going, amiable and humble disposition created in him a good conversationalist whose generosity, with his excellent knowledge of the trade union and political history of Jamaica, knew no bounds. Those of us who knew him, worked with him, and benefited from his vast knowledge and experience are grateful and fortunate to have been touched by his remarkable recollections.

An avid Roman Catholic, farmer, reader and dancer, Joseph Edward McPherson was born in Kingston on February 19, 1930, son of Theophilus McPherson (a founding delegate and maritime officer of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU)) and his wife Louise Viola (nee Dennis). His early education at St Aloysius and Congregational Primary schools led to secondary education at The West Indies College (1942-47), then later to Trade Union Readers’ Course at The University College of the West Indies in 1954, a CD&W scholarship in trade union journalism in the United Kingdom in 1954, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Course in West Germany in 1988.

He was a member of the Industrial Dispute Tribunal (IDT) since 1981, director (and later executive director) of the Jamaica Institute of Political Education (JIPE), editor of

JIPE Publications, director and chairman of the Development Committee of Mount Royal Estates Co-op Society Ltd, a member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) central executive since 1955, and a former assistant island supervisor of the BITU (1962-67). He was a worker delegate to the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland (1962-67) and served on ILO technical committees, among them, agrarian reform.

He served as a member of the Minimum Wage Advisory Board (covering the dry goods trade, dry cleaning and laundry trade and the garment manufacturing trade), as well as a member of the apprenticeship board and the board of supervision. He also served as chairman of the Denham Town Golden Age Home, was chairman of several school boards, a member of the Morant Bay Land Authority, managing editor and publisher of

The Voice weekly newspaper, and chairman of Jamaica Multi Printing.

Joseph McPherson was the unsuccessful JLP candidate against PNP firebrand incumbent Wills O Isaacs in Kingston East Central in the 1959 and 1962 general elections, and served as one of the first (Government) senators of independent Jamaica — 1962-1967.

He was also Portia Simpson Miller’s first JLP opponent in St Andrew South Western in the 1976 General Election, replacing Senator Pearnel Charles Sr who had been detained in the infamous national state of emergency. He polled 24.4 per cent of the ballots (the highest-ever JLP percentage against Simpson Miller) in a constituency where 47 of the 117 ballot boxes had a voter turnout of over 100 per cent. During the election campaign his business place at 71 Maxfield Avenue was torched and his chief advertising agent was killed.

In 1997 McPherson was installed with the Order of Distinction Officer Class by the Government “for long and productive service to trade unionism and journalism”, and in 1983 he was honoured by the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ).

On March 31, 1956, he married Olive St Claire Campbell and the union produced David, Joseph Jr, Phillip, Rose Marie, Heather, and Donna. Between McPherson, his wife and his father Theophilus, they have given nearly 80 years of service to two of the country’s most important institutions — the JLP and the BITU.

McPherson played a fine innings and has left an impressive legacy for the younger generation to emulate. His passing will leave a void not easily filled and will, in fact, pose quite a challenge, especially to those younger ones, if their desires are to be taken seriously in similar realms of endeavour that he pursued.

Walk good!

Troy Caine is a political historian and analyst. E-mail him at trodencorp@gmail.com.