CINCINNATI QUEEN CITY BRANCH43                                                                 
By Ed Wesseling

Br 43 is located at 4100 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 we currently have 43 postal installations within our boundaries. Amelia ~ Batavia ~ Bethel ~ Blanchester ~ Cincinnati 20 offices~ Cleves ~ Harrison ~ Hillsboro ~ Georgetown--Greenfield ~ Lebanon ~ Loveland ~ Mason ~ Middletown ~ Milford ~ Monroe ~ Morrow ~ New Richmond--Oxford ~ Ripley ~ South Lebanon ~ Springboro ~ Wilmington.

Cincinnati is located in the southwest corner of Ohio bordering Kentucky on the Ohio River. Many Branch 43 members live in Northern Ky, and some even in SE Indiana. We represent offices in the Cincinnati Postal District. Branch 43 at present has a membership of 1751 including 129 gold card members and 433 retirees. Branch 43 purchased a building in 1983. It is a large White building perched on a hill with parking, a nice size meeting hall and offices on the first and second floors. The second floor is rented to an IBEW local.

 W.H. Ward was President when Br 43 received its Charter on July 25,1890.  In August of 1890 George Sweeney was Br 43's delegate to the 1st convention held in Boston he was elected to the Executive Committee.

Since then the Branch has grown and put forth a number of talented members. Charles C. Couden of Br 43 was elected the 5th NALC National President in1894 at the Cleveland  Convention. He only served one term then returned to his mail route in Cincinnati but stayed active in the Branch and was a delegate to National Conventions.  A few years later John T. Mugavin was named National EX Board Member and credited with being the father of the NSBA (National Sick Benefits Association).

Wm. C. Doherty was installed as BR 43 President  in 1928 by John T. Mugavin.  Doherty (Br 43 Pres. and Ohio State NALC Pres.) was appointed to the NALC board of officers after the death of John T. Mugavin  in 1932. Br 43 changed its name  that year from Queen City Branch to John T. Mugavin  branch in order to perpetuate his name.

At the 1941 NALC National Convention in Las Vegas, Wm. C. Doherty was elected the 12th NALC President without opposition. We are all proud of the accomplishments and the pay raises realized by the NALC and its members under his leadership.

To name a few, the eight story marble NALC building that stands at 100 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. in the shadow of the Capitol; was dedicated August 20,1952. Bill  wrote a book called Mailman U.S.A. in 1960.  If you look hard enough in your local union office you may find an old copy hiding in the back of a closet or filing cabinet.  On July 1, 1960 the new NALC Health Benefits Plan began operations. The 1960 NALC National Convention was hosted by Cincinnati Br 43. Bill Doherty served with great distinction from 1941 until his retirement at the Denver Convention in 1962.

 President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988 and by July 1,1962 the NALC was granted national exclusive recognition and gained the right to represent all city letter carriers in dealings with postal management.  July 1, 1962 was also the ground breaking at NALCREST in Lake Wales, FL. In November of 1962 Wm C Doherty was appointed First Ambassador to Jamaica by President Kennedy and served until April 1964.  Doherty moved to NALCREST Florida and helped to make the NALC Retirement Community a great success.  Wm. C. Doherty was laid to rest in1987 in Washington, D.C.

Jack Rich Br 43 President was elevated to District Director (equal to NBA today) of the old Cincinnati Region in 1965.

Branch 43 changed its name back to Queen City Branch in 1981. Gary Gabbard was BR 43 President 1983 - 2006. November 2006 Jerry Giesting was elected Br 43 President and is a member of the Ohio State Board of officers.

Jerry Giesting retired as Br 43 President in June of 2011 and appointed Br 43 Vice President Dave Kennedy in his place. Dave has served in a number of positions in the Branch and has been Vice President since 2006.