1944 – Becker dropped out of high school during his freshman year and got a job working an open hearth furnace in the Granite City mill.

1946 – He joined the United States Marine Corps, and served two years.

1956 – He remained in the Army, mustering out as a master sergeant.

1961 – He quickly rose within the ranks, as members elected him to be the local union’s shop steward, treasurer, vice president, and then president.

1965 – Becker was hired by the United Steelworkers as a full-time staff representative for the Granite City local.

1969 – Becker testified before the United States Congress on lead poisoning issues as Congress debated the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

1970 – Becker became active in international union politics.

1975 – The USW hired Becker as a staff safety and health representative in the national union office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1977 – He supported the campaign of District 34 president Lloyd McBride against Edward Sadlowski for president of the United Steelworkers.

1993 – Williams retired as president of the Steelworkers at the end of his term.

1994 – He became the first person since Philip Murray to be elected president of the union without an election challenge or the death of a predecessor. He was sworn into office on the 1st of March.

         – Becker was elected a vice president of the AFL-CIO on the 24th of February.

2000 – Becker was instrumental in winning an early AFL-CIO endorsement of Al Gore in his race for president of the United States.

2001 – George Becker resigned unexpectedly as president of the United Steelworkers on the 28th of February.