Ken Ferguson, Retired Assistant to 4 EVPs, Dies

A. Kenneth Ferguson, retired assistant to several CWA executive vice presidents, died Dec. 20, 2006 at age 90.

"Ken was just a super assistant. That's why so many people kept picking him up," said retired Executive Vice President M.E. Nichols, who was succeeded in the office by now-CWA President Larry Cohen.

Ferguson served as Nichols' assistant from 1980 until he retired in October 1988. Nichols credited him with astute oversight of the union's education, scholarship and safety and health programs. Ferguson had previously served as assistant to former Executive Vice Presidents James Massey, Louis Knecht, who later became secretary-treasurer, and George Miller.

Ferguson in 1946 hired on with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Missouri as a cable splicer's helper. He served as a steward and president of Local 6325 between 1952 and 1960, when he joined the staff as a CWA representative. He worked out of the union's Kansas City, Mo., office until 1964, then from the District 6 headquarters office in St. Louis. He came to Washington as EVP James Massey's assistant in September 1969.