Elected Officers

Daniel C. Hendrix is a second-generation pipeliner. He joined Pipeliners Local Union 798 in 1977 as a Welder Helper and changed his classification to Journeyman Welder in 1981. He has worked for Local 798 in many capacities, including Journeyman Welder, Job Steward, Welding Instructor, Dispatcher, and Director of Training. Danny served as a delegate to the 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th, and 40th UA Conventions. He was Local 798’s first graduate of the UA five‐year Instructor Training Program. He holds the following certifications: CPWI, CWI/AWS, Level II Radiographer, and UA‐ATR‐V. Danny currently serves as co‐chairman for the Pension, Health, 401(k), and Training Center Trust Funds. He serves on the Steering Committee and is a member of the Negotiating Committee for the National Pipeline Agreement. In August 2016, at the UA Convention, Danny was elected to serve a five‐year term as UA District Three Vice President with a territory encompassing 11 states. He is also the director of the Pipeliners Voluntary Fund. Danny currently resides in Claremore, Oklahoma, with his wife of over 40 years, Norma Kay.

Shannon Jackson is a first-generation Pipeliners Local Union 798 member initiated on June 29, 1998, as a Journeyman Welder. He has worked as a Journeyman Welder, Repair Welder, Fabrication Foreman, Technician on Auto Welders, Job Steward, and Welder Foreman. He worked out of sister Local Union 375, Fairbanks, Alaska, in Prudhoe Bay for five years when things were slow in the lower 48.

Shannon has three children, Seth is a Journeyman Welder, Shelby is a cosmetologist, and Scott is a Welder Helper and is currently a student in the I.B.E.W. Apprenticeship Program. Shannon also has four grandchildren, Skyler, Elijah, Silas, and Forrest. Shannon’s wife Rebecca also has three children: Aiden, a Welder Helper, Landon, and Zane.

When Shannon and Rebecca are not working, they enjoy spending time fishing and hunting with their family and friends. Shannon’s passion is to work around hard-working professionals on the R.O.W. and to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Shannon is very honored to be your President. He hopes to see you on the R.O.W. soon.

Randy Mathis is a second-generation pipeliner and a 41-year member of Local 798. In 1981, at fifteen, Randy followed in his late father, Charles Mathis’ footprints and began his career as a Welder Helper. At sixteen, he joined Pipeliners Local Union 798 and has never looked back. Randy spent no time progressing in his career, changing his classification to Journeyman Welder in 1988.

Randy has worked for various contractors in this industry over the years across the U.S., including Alaska. Most of his career was spent with HC Price as a Journeyman Welder and Welder Foreman. Since 2014 Randy has been the Project Superintendent with US Trinity Energy Services and has overseen major mainline projects. During his career, Randy has participated in and witnessed the ever-changing dynamics of the pipeline industry, both good and bad. However, the one constant in his career is the opportunity, protection, and security provided by this great local. In 2011, Randy was elected to serve on the Executive Board. He served this local well in this position until 2021 when he was appointed vice president, where he proudly continues to serve.

Randy is a lifelong resident of Texas, where he and his wife Shelia reside and operate their family-owned 5 M Ranch. Randy and Sheila have four children, six grandchildren, and their beloved dog “Hoss.”

Matt Ingram is a third-generation Pipeliners Local Union 798 Journeyman Welder. He was initiated on July 8, 1997, as a Welder Helper and soon after worked as a Journeyman Welder, Job Steward, Repair Welder, UA Technician, and Welder Foreman for numerous contractors. Matt has lived the life of a pipeline family, and that is all he’s ever known.

He’s a Christian family man and has been married to his wife, Wendy, for 18 years. She has traveled on the road with him but mostly works her career as a Realtor back home in Winnsboro, LA. They have a blended family, sharing five children, and have four beautiful grandchildren. When Matt is at home, you can usually find him helping with several ministries with his church family, fishing for big bass, or hunting deer and turkey.

“I am honored to serve as Recording Secretary of this great local and look forward to working with the best and will do my very best. Thank you, and God bless.”

Joseph has been a proud member in good standing since he was initiated on July 30, 2007, as a Welder Helper. On January 15, 2010, he changed his classification to Journeyman Welder. He has since had the privilege of upholding our contract and working conditions as a Job Steward. He was honored to represent the members as a delegate at the 40th United Association Convention in 2021. Joseph has experience working in many pipeline positions, such as running beads, the firing line, and tie-ins, but enjoys fabrication the most.

Joseph currently resides in Ohio, where he met his wife, Stevie. Together they enjoy spending time with their kids and watching them participate in sports. As a traditional pipeline family, they embrace life on the road and are grateful to be a part of 798. This local has always been a big part of their lives and a blessing to their family.

Joseph is grateful for the opportunity and eager to give back to 798. “I am committed to upholding the conditions that have been established by our steadfast retirees, and I am confident that I will be a positive asset to our membership. I intend to conduct our meetings with structure and integrity just as I strive for in my daily life.”

Jeffrey was initiated in April 1986 and is a second-generation pipeliner. He has worked as a Welder Helper, Journeyman Welder, Technician, Job Steward, and Welder Forman for many different contractors. He has two children, Camran Jones, and Ethan Doyle. He currently resides in East Texas and enjoys working around the house when not he’s not out on the road. He has been blessed in the pipeline industry and looks forward to working for the members and representing them as a member of the Executive Board.

Brett is a second-generation Journeyman Welder member of Pipeliners Local Union 798. He initiated on June 30, 1982, as a Welder Helper and then changed his classification to Journeyman Welder in 1989. Brett has worked in both classifications for numerous contractors throughout the years. He also served in the capacity of Welder Forman for four different contractors and as a Job Steward under five Business Agents. He has also worked in many sister local unions on pipelines, stations, and building trades work. Brett has also had the honor to serve as a Local 798 delegate at the last three UA conventions.

Brett has been married to his wife, Lynnda, for 34 years. Together they have one son, Caleb, who is currently a Welder Helper member of Local 798 and is now working as a PA-C at Arkansas Dermatology. Caleb is married to Kyndl, and they have blessed them with their first granddaughter, Glaisely Sage.

Brett is honored to serve this great local, and he will do so to the very best of his ability.

Cody Pedigo is a third-generation pipeliner and a second-generation Pipeliners Local Union 798 member. He has been honored to serve this local in the field for the last 24 years, 19 of those as a Journeyman Welder member. Cody has served as a Journeyman Welder, Repair Welder, Job Steward, Welder Foreman, and a UA Convention delegate.

He is a family man, having been married for 22 years to his wife Cherry, and has been blessed with two boys. His oldest son, Jacob, is 21. Jacob is an Eagle Scout and an accomplished martial artist. Currently he resides in Sacramento, California, where he trains at Team Alpha Male while pursuing his dream of being a professional MMA fighter. His youngest, Joshua, will soon be 18. Joshua is in his senior year. He is a talented singer, musician, actor, and dancer and will head off to college in the Fall.

Like many who grew up in this industry, Cody started his pipelining career straight out of high school, and it is all he’s ever known. He is very proud to say that he’s never had any possessions that weren’t bought with a negotiated dollar in his life. Cody says everything he has he owes to the talent the Lord has blessed him with, his family, and the opportunities provided by Pipeliners Local Union 798. Cody looks forward to serving this great local for as long as the membership sees fit. He only hopes that, like his father, he can help in the continued growth of this amazing institution so it can be a blessing to others, just as it was to him.

Troy Post was initiated as a Welder Helper member of Local Union 798 on August 29, 1975. In April of 1981, he changed his classification to Journeyman Welder. Troy has served as a member of the Executive Board since 2014.

David N. Hall is a first-generation Pipeliners Local Union 798 Journeyman Welder initiated on August 15, 2005. He has worked as a Journeyman Welder, Job Steward, Repair Welder, Technician, and Welder Foreman. David was born in Ruston, Louisiana. He and his wife, Sonya, have been married for 25 years. She is currently in her fourteenth year of teaching at Pittsburg Junior High in Pittsburg, Texas, where she teaches eighth-grade math.

David and Sonya were blessed with two sons, Dalton and Lane. Dalton is currently attending East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, working on his bachelor’s degree in sports training and playing on the Tiger baseball team. Lane is currently a freshman at Pittsburg High School, where he plays football as a linebacker and running back and also plays baseball in the spring.

“I am very honored to serve the membership as an officer on the Finance Committee. Thank you, and God bless.”

Raymond Johnson was initiated into Pipeliners Local Union 798 on June 11, 1997, as a Welder Helper. He later upgraded his classification to Journeyman Welder and has worked in almost every job classification. He feels that the opportunity to serve the membership is by far the most rewarding. He has been married to his wife, Carrie, for 30 years, and together they have been blessed with two children, Jacob and Abigail. “I was born on and have raised my children on the benefits and fair wages that the membership of this local fought for. I will strive to continue this work in all my duties.”

Guy Simms has been a proud member of Pipeliners Local 798 since his initiation in 1982. He worked as a Welder Helper until changing his classification to Journeyman Welder in 1989. Throughout his career, Guy has held the position of Welder Foreman, Job Steward, Fabrication Foreman, and Hydrostatic Testing Welder for numerous contractors on various mainline, distribution, and compressor station projects. He is honored to have served as Inside Guard during Steward School for 10 years. In 2011 and 2016, Guy also represented Local 798 at the 38th and 39th UA Conventions as an elected delegate. Guy currently serves on the Finance Committee. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Northeast Louisiana. They have two children and four grandchildren.

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Ricky Jones was initiated on June 19, 1975, as a Welder Helper and was soon dispatched to the Alaska Pipeline on July 23, 1975. He continued working pipeline and building trades in multiple nuclear power plants and refineries. Once passing his Journeyman Welder test on July 13, 1982, he continued working pipeline and building trades. Throughout his time in the field, he worked in 27 states and numerous other UA Local Unions. Ricky was hired as a Welding Instructor at the Local 798 Training Center on January 28, 2008. There he served as a Welding Instructor and Authorized Testing Representative of the UA. In August 2010, Ricky passed his AWS‐CWI test and received his certification as a UA Instructor. He served as an instructor until being appointed to the Local 798 Dispatch office on May 1, 2015. On May 29, 2022, his assignment as Dispatcher was complete. Ricky says, “It has truly been an honor to serve the membership. I will continue to serve in whatever capacity the membership allows me the privilege to serve.” Ricky lives in Bald Knob, Arkansas, with his wife, Tanya, close to their children, stepchildren, and grandchildren.