William Sidell

Who was William Sidell?

William Sidell was a carpenter and an American labor leader. He was president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America from 1973 to 1979.

He was born in Chicago to Samuel and Fannie Sidell. His father was a cabinetmaker. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Sidell graduated from public high school.

He apprenticed as a carpenter, and in 1939 joined the local in Los Angeles.

He married his wife, Frankie, in 1936 and the couple had three children.

In 1948, he was elected business manager of Local 721 in Los Angeles, and in 1957 secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles District Council of Carpenters. He served as a trustee for the Carpenters Health and Welfare Fund for Southern California, and as a pension trustee for the Carpenters Pension Trust for Southern California.

In 1963, he was elected a vice president of the Carpenters union and served on the general executive board. In 1964, he was elected second vice president, and moved to first vice president in 1969.

After the retirement of president Maurice Hutcheson in 1972, he was elected president as his successor.