Ms. Eva Geer

The Geer men had a strong tradition of taking care of their own. They took care of their families first and foremost. Joseph Jesse Geer, Sr. proudly served his country in the Navy during World War II. After 12 years in the Navy, he came back to Beaumont, Texas and joined the Pipefitters Local Union #195 to become a journeyman pipefitter. Jesse, Sr. worked out of Local 195 until the time of his death in 1983. During his career, he was well regarded by management of the companies that he worked for and more importantly, by his crews. He was always very proud of being a member of the Union and as his sons grew up, they followed in his footsteps. After Joseph Jesse Geer, Jr. served in the Navy during the Viet Nam War, he too returned Vidor, Texas, where the Geer family had lived for a number of years. Again following in his father’s footsteps, Jesse, Jr. joined Local 195. By the time he had worked for a few years as a journeyman pipefitter and welder things in the Golden Triangle had started to change. The Union jobs that everyone had always counted on were drying up and there were fewer jobs every year. Jesse, Jr. then decided to take a different approach and earned a degree in Computer Drafting Technology. Jesse, Jr. loved learning the drafting side of a construction project after many years of working in and around the refineries. Unfortunately, his death in 2007 prevented him from ever enjoying his drafting degree. Robert Edward Geer was the only man in the family who didn’t serve in the Navy. Instead, he entered the apprentice program of Local 195 as soon as he was old enough to apply. While he waited for his 18th birthday, he joined the Laborer’s Union and often worked as a laborer on jobs where his father and brother were working as pipefitters or welders. Robert loved what he was learning in the program and often brought samples of the welds and cuts that they practiced in class to the hospital so that Jesse, Sr. could critique his work, Robert’s career as a pipefitter and welder was cut short by his death in an offshore accident in 1984. Jesse, Sr. taught his sons to be responsible for their own safety. It was second nature to them to personally verify that all valves were closed and the lines were clear before making the first weld or cut into a line. The safety man may be responsible for making sure that this is done but just in case he was distracted, Jesse, Jr. and Robert always made the final inspection before they began work. Jesse, Jr. and Robert were blessed to have a father that taught them everything that they needed to know to safely make a living for themselves and their families. Not everyone is so lucky. The Geer family hopes that this scholarship will allow students to obtain degrees and /or licenses so that they can follow in the tradition of the Geer men. We hope to ensure that while Jesse, Sr. is not around to teach their sons and daughters, directly, this scholarship will stand in his stead and allow them to take care of their families for years to come.