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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2007)
Let me say this about that ...Leonard Palmer dies (From Page 2) the U.S. Army in World War II. He was in an infantry unit preparing to invade Japan when the Japanese government surrendered after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on that nation. He served in the U.S. occupation of postwar Japan until his honorable discharge in 1947. He returned to Clarkston and finished high school. In an account of his life, he said of his postwar school period: “I was active in boxing and also known for my innate ability to carry a tune.” His wife, Ena Mae, told the Labor Press that he had considered becoming a high school music teacher. Palmer attended Lewis & Clark Normal School in nearby Lewiston, Idaho, for a year, then took a job in Lewiston with Potlatch Forests Inc., where he became active in the IWA. In 1950 he married Ena Mae Earl at her parents’ home in Lewiston. In his account of his life, he said: “My interests in the working man’s rights led me to a career in the International Woodworkers of America ... between the years of 1952 and 1986. During my tenure at IWA, I always said, ‘Until you’ve carried a lunch LEONARD PALMER bucket, you haven’t worked,’ and I believe that very strongly.” PALMER WAS ELECTED as an international vice president of the IWA when its office was on North Lombard Street in Portland. After the union split into U.S. and Canadian entities, he lost out on becoming president of the Glad- stone-based U.S. IWA and then took a job in a lumber mill in Lewiston. He later returned to Oregon as business agent of the local in Molalla. The IWA later merged into the International Association of Machinists. Blackie, a left-hander, played golf and bowled as a southpaw. LEONARD AND ENA MAE moved to Oregon in the the 1950s and made their home in Oregon City, which is still the family residence. Blackie enjoyed his family. His account of his life said: “We have a daughter, Jennie Lee, who is married to my son-in-law, Robert Skellenger. They have three children, Nick, age 29, Christina, age 25, and Tony, age 23. Some of my best memories of my family include traveling home to Idaho with my wife, gambling at Spirit Moun- tain Casino with my wife, daughter and son-in-law; and playing pinochle with my grandkids.” Palmer is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and sis- ter, Dorothy Riggs of Lewiston. Palmer’s funeral was conducted on May 21 at the Lewis-Clark Memorial Gar- dens in Lewiston. ★★★ Construction volunteers sought Organizers are hoping some skilled union craftsmen and women can help them revitalize an historic building that is used as a community center for chil- dren in the Sunnyside neighborhood. In 1922, the Sunnyside Centenary United Methodist Church at SE 35th and Yamhill in Portland added a Com- munity House Annex to the sanctuary. The community center was intended to be self-funded by community support. While the Methodist congregation has aged, the burden of expensive maintenance has fallen to an older and much smaller congregation of less than 60 members in a building meant to serve over 1,000 people. Local community activists Genie Cochran, Karen Hery and Mary Ann Schwab, a retired member of the Port- land Federation of Teachers and Clas- sified Employees Local 111, are or- chestrating a campaign to solicit com- munity volunteers, contractors and in- kind financial support to restore the building. Their first project is an extensive upgrade and repair of space being used by Children’s Club, a non-profit slid- ing- scale day care providing pre- kindergarten and after school care for families of all socioeconomic levels. The program has an on-site autism specialist and contracts with Portland Public Schools to provide services for special needs kids. The program has operated for over 25 years and to be re- certified, new flooring and painted walls and replacement windows are needed. A work party has been scheduled for July 7-15. The work will start on July 7 with moving the classroom fur- niture and toys, and then through the Solidarity Day at Woodburn Dragstrip July 7 will feature ‘Union Yes’ race car The first ever Solidarity Day at the Woodburn Dragstrip will be held Sat- urday, July 7. The event is co-sponsored by the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council and will feature the Union “YES” race car driven by Greg Hindman, a member of Plumbers and Fitters Local 290. Tickets are $40 and will include drag racing, plus a catered lunch and soft drinks from 1 to 3 p.m. The Union “YES” race car is scheduled to race at ap- proximately 3:45 p.m. July 5-7 at the Woodburn Dragstrip features the 30th annual Les Schwab Challenge NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Gates open at 8 a.m. For more information, or to order tickets, call the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council at 503-774-0546. week comes prepping and painting of the walls and ceilings followed by the laying of 12-inch commercial floor tile. Installing custom retrofit windows is also planned. Volunteers with skills in painting, flooring, window installation, plumb- ing and general carpentry are needed. If you would like to help, contact Cochran, who is coordinating the work party at 503- 317-3003 or e-mail Hery at: karenhery@ gmail.com. Labor’s Emergency Fund Program will close for 3 weeks Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA) announced that its Emergency Assistance Program will be temporarily unavailable in July in order to accommodate summertime staff schedules and changes slated for the organization’s new fiscal year. The emergency program will be suspended from July 1 through July 22. “During that time, we’re asking anyone in need of temporary assis- tance to call 2-1-1 by phone, visit www.211info.org, or call your local United Way,” said Executive Director Glenn Shuck. The 2-1-1 emergency number pro- vides comprehensive and specialized information and access to helping agencies. LCSA’s Emergency Assis- tance Program will resume operation on Monday, July 23. CAL ROGERS, a retired official of two Portland unions, died of a heart at- tack on April 26, 2007, at age 76. He was born in Illinois and moved to Portland in 1943. He graduated from Washington High School in Southeast Portland. ROGERS WAS a member of Teamsters Locals 206, 305 and 162 while working for various employers, including United Parcel Service. He became ac- tive in Local 162 and was elected a business representative in 1962. He was elected president in 1974 and served in that office until 1983. In his years with Local 162, Joe Edgar was its executive secretary-treasurer. Rogers later served as a business representative for Service Employees Local 49, starting when Marty Blake was its executive secretary-treasurer. AFTER HIS RETIREMENT, Rogers served on Teamster Joint Conference Boards for several locals. “Cal Rogers was an important and respected figure in our union for a long time,” said Teamsters Joint Council 37 President Tony An- drews. “We will all miss him. On behalf of our members, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Cal’s family and friends.” Rogers is survived by his wife, Berna; daughters Linda West and Gayle Gothe; son Craig; stepdaughters Julie Mead and Melissa Whitcomb; stepsons Jay Oliver, Jim Oliver and Tom McComb; 16 grandchildren and one great-grand- child. ★★★ BILL SHATAVA of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is the new president of the Northwest Oregon Labor Retirees Council. He succeeds the late John Klein, also a member of the Teamsters. Shatava is president of the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37 Retirees. Harold King, secretary-treasurer of the NW Oregon Labor Retirees Council, reminded all retirees that its meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the second Monday of the month in the boardroom of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, in the Scandia Building at 1125 SE Madison St., Portland. JUNE 15, 2007 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 11
