1988
Citation:
Your determination to succeed, your concern for human rights and dignity and your willingness to share your time and talents with the community are an inspiration to persons from all walks of life. You returned from military service in World War II to resume your career in the auto industry as a machine operator. Your leadership abilities and your desire to help others led you to become active in the UAW, where you rose through the ranks to become Internal Vice President and Director of the UAW’s Chrysler Department. Determined to earn a college degree, you enrolled in evening coursed at U of D in 1962 and kept it for several years until realizing your goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Although your executive position with the union places heavy demands on your time, you have willingly shared your talents with numerous community organizations including the Advisory Board of the Michigan Job Training Coordinating Council, New Detroit Board of Trustees, Greater Detroit Area Hospital Council, National Council of Christians and Jews, the NAACP and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. As a labor leader you have bargained steadfastly on behalf of workers, but you have been willing to explore all sides of issues. And you have had the courage to advocate unpopular stances on important issues when you felt this was in the best long-term interest of those you present. Through the years, you have used your energy and influence to help overcome discriminatory attitudes in American society. Among your many achievements, perhaps none is greater than your efforts to educate the American public toward a greater degree of social consciousness. The University of Detroit is proud to proclaim you as one of its distinguished alumni.
Award was presented at the President's Cabinet Annual Awards Dinner, 1988.