Joseph Albert “Jock” Yablonski - Washington PA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 40° 09.306 W 080° 15.162
17T E 563645 N 4445239
Labor Leader. On December 31, 1969, while he and his wife slept, hired gunmen broke into their home and shot Yablonski and his wife and daughter. The gunman were hired by Union President Tony Boyle.
Waymark Code: WM12X1G
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 07/29/2020
Views: 0
He is buried in Washington Cemetery in Section 6.
Description:
From Find A Grave: Labor Leader. A mine worker from an early age, Yablonski became interested in helping mine workers and their union after his father's death in an explosion. He began to work toward labor reform and in 1965 became a District boss. But his ideals clashed with that of Union President Tony Boyle and Yablonski ran against him for Union President. This angered Boyle and he made public threats that Yablonski must be silenced once and for all. On December 31, 1969, while he and his wife slept, hired gunmen broke into their home and shot Yablonski and his wife and daughter. The bodies where discovered by his son a few days later. A year later, in 1970, a group called "Miners for Democracy" was formed to carry on the work that Yablonski had begun. Boyle was investigated and charged with fraud, misuses of union money and during the investigation was charged with paying $20,000 for the hit on Yablonski and his family. His story became the 1986 HBO film "Act of Vengence" with Charles Bronson as Yablonski.
Date of birth: 03/03/1910
Date of death: 12/31/1969
Area of notoriety: Politics
Marker Type: Monument
Setting: Outdoor
Fee required?: No
Web site: [Web Link]
Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed
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