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