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  When the National Apprenticeship Board
approved the National Competitions, an awards Committee was appointed to
develop and purchase the award that was to go to the winner.
The Committee consisted of Bob Conway,
representing the employers, Charles Clancy,BM-Local 83, Michael Murphy,
BM-Local 154 and Daniel F. Everett, Instruction Coordinator. The Committee
agreed on a "bronze" sculpture of a boilermaker to be presented to
the winner of the Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Award each year.
It was agreed that Mr John T. Cody a Western-Landscape
artist would be hired to do the sculpture. Mr. Cody began his art studies
while attending high school and continued them at the Kansas City Art
Institute for two years under Austin Ketchum, instructor. Later Mr. Cody
studied privately under the Kansas City-Santa Fe artist, Dwight Roberts. He
studied under Dallas artist, Ramon Froman and landscape painting under San
Antonio artist, Harold Roney. He later attended a workshop in Sedona, Arizona
conducted by Jerome Grimmer, a California artist. Mr. Cody is attracted to
subject matter with a western touch whether it be landscapes, cowboys,
horses, cattle or western wild life. He works in oil, pen and ink, pencil and
sculpture. Mr. Cody is now retired from the business career which he took
over in 1948.
John's father, David J. Cody,
established the Cody Boiler Repair Company in 1922 who had served his
apprenticeship in the boilermakers with the railroad before the turn of the
century. He went into business during the big railroad strike in the 20's.
After David Cody passed away in 1948, John took over the management of the
company.
Ater twenty years the name was changed
to The John T. Cody Corporation. John operated the company until 1986 using
Union Boilermakers by Agreement with Local 83, Kansas City, MO. When the
company was liquidated in 1986 John retired to pursue a full-time career in
painting and sculpting.
The model used for the sculpture was
Kenneth E. Berry, a graduate apprentice from Local 83.
John T. Cody, a well deserving
craftsman and artist. "Thanks John!!"
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