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Retired Pacific Northwest Director Ronald Hale Dies at 87
Ronald Hale, who retired in 1977 as CWA's director in the Pacific Northwest, died Sept. 22 at the age of 87.
Hale was born and raised in Idaho and attended Idaho State College, where he was on the football, basketball, baseball and track teams. He was inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame in 1984.
In 1936, after jobs at Union Pacific Railroad and the University of Idaho, Hale went to work at Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph in Idaho. He was involved in the early effort to organize Bell System workers, and he went on to head the Pocatello local of CWA’s predecessor, the National Federation of Telephone Workers, founded in 1938.
In 1951, CWA hired him as its Utah director. In 1955, he was named the Oregon director, working out of Portland, then part of District 9. In 1967, he became the regional director, moving to Seattle to serve Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In 1971, Alaska was added to his responsibilities.
Hale retired in 1977, settling in Tigard, Ore. After leaving CWA, he and his wife, Beth, spent time as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Canada and in San Bernardino, Calif. Beth Hale died in June. She and Ronald were married 64 years.
Hale was born and raised in Idaho and attended Idaho State College, where he was on the football, basketball, baseball and track teams. He was inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame in 1984.
In 1936, after jobs at Union Pacific Railroad and the University of Idaho, Hale went to work at Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph in Idaho. He was involved in the early effort to organize Bell System workers, and he went on to head the Pocatello local of CWA’s predecessor, the National Federation of Telephone Workers, founded in 1938.
In 1951, CWA hired him as its Utah director. In 1955, he was named the Oregon director, working out of Portland, then part of District 9. In 1967, he became the regional director, moving to Seattle to serve Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In 1971, Alaska was added to his responsibilities.
Hale retired in 1977, settling in Tigard, Ore. After leaving CWA, he and his wife, Beth, spent time as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Canada and in San Bernardino, Calif. Beth Hale died in June. She and Ronald were married 64 years.