Ralph Kevin Harris ’78

Field Representative, Essex County, Building Construction Laborer’s Local 3

“If you would have told me 45 years ago that I’d be responsible for sending 3,000 guys to work every day, I wouldn’t have believed you. I never expected to be in this spot.

I was a construction laborer with Laborers’ Local 3 for 37 years. I’d started summers when I was 16, with my father and uncle, and went right into the business after graduating St. Benedict’s. Nine years ago, I was promoted to field representative; I’m a business agent. If a Local 3 worker is having a problem on the job, I go and see them, find out what’s going on and help resolve the issue. It’s a lot of mediation and negotiation.

Right now, we’re working on Halo, the high-rise development that will be one of the tallest buildings in Newark. What does it take to succeed in this role? You need to know the business; hands-on experience is the best preparation. That’s why I’m pushing to get a Construction Craft Laborers Training Center closer to Newark. Kids need apprenticeship training to get into the construction trade.

This business also tests you physically and mentally, so resilience is important. I think St. Benedict’s prepared me for that. The big experience was leadership and learning how to be leaders out in the world. That had a big influence on me and still influences me today. Mr. [Bernard] Greene, the Dean of Discipline and Fr. Ed…they would ask for our opinions on a situation. If we were having a bad week with everyone doing the wrong thing or we’d lost a big game, Fr. Ed would look at me at Convo and say, ‘Let’s ask Ralph if we should get a day off from school.’ It would be up to me to decide if we were going to get a break to reset and refocus.

I was happy Fr. Ed picked me and everybody seemed to agree with it. He still calls and asks me if the kids should get a day of school. My advice for incoming freshman to stay resilient? Keep your head up and try to stay focused. You can get through it and become whatever you want to be.”