William P. Hite Biography

William P. Hite was elected General President of the United Association in December of 2004. He served as Assistant General President from 2001-2004 and has been a UA member for 37 years.

Hite and his three brothers are third generation union members. Their grandfather started with the International Association in 1901, when fitters, steamfitters and gas fitters were in the International Association and plumbers were in the United Association. In 1911, the International Association and the United Association were consolidated.

Hite started his apprenticeship on January 1, 1968 and became a journeyman in 1972. He was elected as a Delegate to his first UA Convention in 1981. In 1983, Hite served as a Delegate for his local union to the Chicago Federation of Labor and was elected Business Agent of Local 597 in 1986. He was still holding the appointed position of Assistant Business Manager when elected Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 597. At the 1996 UA Convention he was elected International Representative and was assigned Illinois and portions of Indiana. Hite was appointed as Administrative Assistant to the General President in June 1999.

Hite’s son, Billy Junior, is a 4th generation member of Local 597 and is an elected Delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor Council.

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