Longtime Michigan Teamster Leader Larry Brennan dies

Former Michigan Teamsters President Lawrence Brennan died on November 23 at his home in Howell, Michigan following a long battle with cancer. He was 88.

Brennan was the son of Owen (Bert) Brennan, one of the three founders of the Detroit Teamsters during the depression years of the 1930s. Bert Brennan, along with Robert (Bobby) Holmes and the legendary James R. Hoffa built the Teamsters into a midwest labor powerhouse following the famous “Strawberry Strike” at a Kroger warehouse near Detroit’s Eastern Market. Brennan and Holmes went on to found Local 337 in Detroit while Jimmy Hoffa built the freight and over-­‐the-­‐road Local 299.

It was at Local 337 where Larry Brennan built his reputation as an organizer and tough negotiator becoming the local President in 1989. He later served as President of the Michigan Teamsters and had various positions in the international union including director of the 400,000 member Teamster Warehouse Division. Brennan retired from the Teamsters in 2013.

Brennan was instrumental in the election of Jimmy Hoffa’s son James P. Hoffa to the Presidency of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 1997. In 1993 he hired Jim Hoffa to be his Administrative Assistant allowing Hoffa the opportunity to be eligible to run for the presidency of the 1.4 million union against so-­‐called “reformer” Ron Carey in 1996. Although Hoffa lost that election the results were later overturned after investigators working for Brennan uncovered a million dollar embezzlement scheme where union funds were laundered back into Carey’s re-­‐ election campaign. A government watchdog later barred Carey from running and Hoffa easily won the rerun election in 1997.

Brennan was an imposing figure at six feet three inches and was known for gruff exterior but also known for his soft spot for dogs and horses and union members and friends in need. Larry was deeply involved in the Michigan harness racing industry and bred many successful trotters.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 52 years Sarah, his sons Brandt and James and daughters Kathy, Karen, and Kim, and ten grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to: the Canine Unit c/o Livingston County Office of the Sheriff @ 304 E. Grand River, Howell, MI 48843

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