Label
RIA Baumhower Retirement
Sarantou
Title
Recognizing Bruce Baumhower, a pillar of Toledo’s labor movement, retired on July 1, 2025, after an exceptional 32-year career as its longest-serving president with United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 12.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
WHEREAS, Bruce Baumhower began his career at the local Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, in 1972, marking the beginning of more than five decades of dedicated service to the labor movement and the automotive industry; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Bruce was elected President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 12, and went on to become the longest-serving president in the Local’s history, leading the union with integrity and unwavering commitment for over 32 years; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, UAW Local 12 became one of the most influential locals in the nation, representing thousands of workers at the Toledo Assembly Complex and across key manufacturing sites throughout Northwest Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Bruce played a pivotal role in securing transformational investments in Toledo’s auto industry, including the establishment of the Chrysler Jeep Liberty plant in 2001 and a landmark $2.1 billion facility in 2005, both of which greatly expanded local employment and reaffirmed Toledo's status as a cornerstone of the American automotive sector; and
WHEREAS, he was a tireless advocate for the development of the regional supplier network, championing the conversion of hundreds of acres in North Toledo into hubs for parts manufacturing, and successfully spearheading major site transformations such as the redevelopment of the former Overland Park into the current Industrial Park and the Toledo Jeep Complex; and
WHEREAS, Bruce’s influence extended beyond the auto industry as he became a forceful advocate on issues impacting the broader community, including education, healthcare reform, infrastructure development, and worker equality across Northwest Ohio; and
WHEREAS, His legacy also includes his vision and passion for community celebration and pride, famously initiating what became the nationally renowned Toledo Jeep Fest from a simple conversation in his office-an event now embraced citywide and drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually; and
WHEREAS, throughout his storied career, Bruce embodied leadership, fairness, and a deep commitment to union values, as reflected in the words of the Union Journal, which called him “a force in the labor community fighting for fairness and equality for union members all over Northwest Ohio”; and
WHEREAS, Bruce retired after a career that shaped the identity, strength, and prosperity of Toledo’s labor movement and left an enduring legacy for future generations of workers.
NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. that we honor Bruce Baumhower for his extraordinary service, his transformational leadership, and his enduring contributions to the City of Toledo, the labor movement, and the lives of countless working families across Northwest Ohio. We extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to Bruce Baumhower on the occasion of his well-earned retirement, with admiration for a career that truly defined an era in Toledo’s labor history.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Adopted: August 12, 2025: yeas 12, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: August 12, 2025
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor