Remembering Doug Fraser February 26, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , trackback
26 February 2008, Flint, Michigan:
Mr. Doug Fraser died last Saturday at the age of 91. He served as President of the United Auto Workers from 1977 to 1983. I had the great fortune of working with Mr. Fraser when I was the Interim Dean of the College of Uran, Labor, and Metropolitan Affairs at Wayne State University where he was Professor of Labor Studies. I remember fondly the lunches we had where Doug discussed the future of labor and the need for universities to study the labor movement.
President Irvin Reid of Wayne State University said that “Mr. Fraser devoted his life to improving the workplace by ensuring workers receive fair pay, enjoy job security and are in a safe environment. He believed everyone must be treated with dignity and respect at work, and his example is one we all can follow.”
Doug Fraser will be missed. My thoughts are with Doug’s wife Winifred and his family.
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Sure, I’ll be glad to be the first. John Davidek here (again). I’ll always remember first meeting Doug Fraser at AutoWorld…of all places! He was sitting alone at a table on the second floor, drinking a cup of coffee, I think. I introduced myself and asked if I could join him…his answer was yes, of course. What a pleasant man was he! He asked me more questions about teaching than I could ask him about the UAW, etc. He had an infectious smile that could and did make anyone talking to him return the smile and affection. That’s about it: I just remember him as being a “guy next door” sort of fellow. That, in and of itself, is a real compliment for someone of his stature in our society. A real man, by all means.