Page 10 - Carrer Channel Magazine 1

TRADES & SPECIALTIES

FROM JOBSITE

TO LEGACY:

A 38-Year Journey

in the Trades

by Kelly Williams

For some, a career in the trades is a calling from day
one. For others, it’s a path discovered through
opportunity, necessity, and respect for the work. For
John O. Horton Jr, it was a little bit of both.

Growing up in Cleveland, he was surrounded by
union life. His father, a proud and dedicated member
of Laborers Local 310, set an example of hard work,
stability, and pride in one’s craft. In 1980, at just 18
years old, he followed in his father’s footsteps—not
because it was a childhood dream, but because it
was a chance to earn a living, gain stability, and join
a brotherhood that valued skill and solidarity.

Building Skills, Building Cities
Training in those days didn’t begin in a classroom, it
started right on the job site. He learned from
seasoned laborers with decades of experience,
mastering everything from running a jackhammer in
the steel mills to pouring concrete and operating
heavy equipment. Over time, union training
programs sharpened his skills and emphasized
safety, a priority in an industry where conditions can
change by the minute.

His hands have helped shape Cleveland’s skyline.
From pouring the majority of the concrete at the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to work on the Society
Tower and Gateway (Jacobs Field), his contributions
are etched into the city’s most iconic landmarks.

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