Ironworkers remember three fallen members on 25th anniversary of Big Blue collapse

Families, union construction workers and public officials on Sunday gathered at American Family Field to remember three workers who died after the collapse of the Big Blue crane 25 years ago.

Jeffrey Wischer, William DeGrave and Jerome Starr were killed on July 14, 1999, when their safety basket suspended in the air was hit by the collapsing crane. The crane was lifting a 450-ton piece of roof when it fell over at the former Miller Park.

The families of the three fallen workers, members of the building trades and Ironworkers Local 8 honored the three at the event, called “Iron Sharpens Iron,” at the Home Plate Gate Plaza at Am Fam.

“I knew all three of our fallen brothers,” said Brent Emons, former business manager of Local 8. “Jerry Starr, we started our apprenticeship together in 1972. Bill DeGrave, his nickname was ‘Diver’ among the Ironworkers … I worked with him on and off throughout his career. Jeff Wischer, I never knew but I knew him from my position, I worked with his older brother. They were Local 8’s finest, those three,” he added.

In 2001, the Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a statue to honor the workers who died on the job, donated by the Habush, Habush and Rottier Charitable Foundation. Five years later, a jury awarded the widows of the three workers $99.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. After an appeal, the amount was brought down to $27 million.

However, no matter how much money is moved around, there are still cracks left by the impact.

“If Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had waited one day, those brothers would still be here today,” said Lyle Balistreri, former president of the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council. “But they didn’t, and three families lost husbands and fathers. Ironworkers Local 8 lost three brothers and they are mourned to this day,” he added.

But after the wreckage was cleared, the trades returned and finished the job, Balistreri noted. The incident catalyzed a wave of changes in safety and worker protections.

“What happened from this tragedy transformed safety in the whole construction industry as far as making heavy picks on numerous construction projects throughout the country,” said Charlie Falkner, the current business manager of Ironworkers Local 8. “We feel it did transform as the Building Trades’ safety overall on construction projects,” he added.

Years after the incident, mental health in construction remains an important discussion for Local 8 and the other trades, Falkner said. To take on the challenge, the trades enacted mentorship programs for younger apprentices, members dealing with substance abuse and other issues.

In attendance for Sunday’s remembrance were former Milwaukee mayor John Norquist; Dan Bukiewicz, president of MBCTC; Milwaukee Brewers former President & CEO Wendy Selig-Prieb; Allen “Bud” Selig; Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger; Robert Habush; and Pastor Ken Fisher of Wisconsin Lutheran High School.

At the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals game, a member of the Ironworkers threw out the first pitch, and the stadium held a moment of silence.