Ironworker Hung Mitt Romney Banner From Sears Tower Antenna

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 16, 2012 1:30PM

Ironworker John Rukavina shown hanging a Mitt Romney banner atop one of the Willis (Sears) Tower antennas. (Photo by Stephen Brown)

Last week we shared video footage of 74-year-old ironworker John Rukavina as he and his nephew attached a new antenna atop the Willis Sears Tower. What wasn’t shown were the mementoes Rukavina left behind: an American flag and a banner showing his support of GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed has the scoop. Rukavina told Sneed the flag (an ironworkers custom) belonged to his sister. It was the burial flag of her husband, a World War II veteran. Rukavina promised his sister he would affix the flag to the antenna.

But he didn’t tell anyone about the Romney banner.

Hey, I’d jump off a building to get Romney elected.”

“I can’t stand Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Obama,” said Rukavina, who worked for ISI Installation Services in Genoa, Ill.

Rukavina is the subject of an in-progress documentary by filmmaker Stephen Brown, Cowboys of the Sky, that looks at his career as a high steel ironworker and his hardscrabble upbringing near South Chicago's steel works. Rukavina told Sneed he was involved with every major antenna installation on Chicago skyscrapers for nearly 40 years.

Rukavina took down the flag and banner shortly after. “It’s my responsibility to make sure no one gets hurt and the wind could have ripped it loose,” he told Sneed.

Cowboys of the Sky Trailer-Vimeo HD from Stephen Brown on Vimeo.