Harold J. Salinas

Mr. Harold J. Salinas of Plant City, Florida died on 10-13-25, at the age of 85. He was born on June 29,1940 in Miami Dade Co., Florida. His family moved back to the Tampa area shortly after his birth. Mr. Salinas attended Hillsborough Co. Schools and graduated from Hillsborough High School in1958. During his high school years, he was a proud member of the varsity basketball team. In 1959, he was indentured as an apprentice with Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #57, Tampa. He married his high school sweetheart Sharon Peel on August 1st, 1959, and they recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. During his active years as a member of local #57, he was elected as: Trustee (1970-1973); Business Representative, Recording Sect. (1973-1979); Business Manager, Financial Sect./Treas. (1979-1988). Upon the amalgamation of Local #57 with Daytona Local #493 he became the Business Manager,Fin.Sect/Treas. of newly chartered local #15 of Central Florida. In 1988, he was appointed as the International Representative for the Sheet Metal Workers Intern. Assoc. (SMWIA) and assigned to the southeastern U.S. In 1999, Mr. Salinas was named as the Assistant to the General President of the SMWIA and commenced his assignment in the Wash. D.C. office on March 1st,1999. During his active years as a representative of the Sheet Metal Workers he was appointed by Governors Askew and Graham to the Florida State Apprenticeship Council (1975-1983; member and co-chairman of the National Apprenticeship Committee(1979-1988); President of the Tampa Metal Trades Council; Vice-President of the Florida Gulf Coast Building Trades Council; Member of the Hillsborough Co. Building Board and Licensing Examiner; Board Member of the Florida Consumer Credit Council. Mr. Salinas was a 9 year member of the SMWIA.

He is survived by three children: Sheri Lord of Plant City, FL; John Salinas (Donna) of Lakeland, FL.; Sheryl Perkins (Mike), Plant City, FL.: three grandchildren: Joshua Gisler, Jacob Gisler & Shelby Salinas; sister Darlene Wendel of Riverview, FL. and numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his wife, Sharon; his father: Julio Salinas (1908-1973); Mother Grace Geneva Scott Salinas (1919-1994).

A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 20th at 2:00 P.M at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 W. Brandon Blvd, Brandon FL 33511. Interment will follow at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens on the same property.

Prior to his passing, Mr. Salinas expressed his abiding love for his wife and family and gratitude for the opportunity to represent the members of his Florida Local Union and the membership of SMWIA Local Unions throughout the U.S.