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Retired Staff Rep Emmett Mayer Dies
Emmett Mayer, a retired CWA representative in District 6, died of kidney failure Oct. 1, at a residential care facility in Creve Couer, Mo. He was 80.
"I could go on for days saying something nice about Emmett," said Rita Voorheis, northern area director in CWA's Sunset Hills, Mo., office, who rose through the ranks in Local 6310, emulating Mayer's example. "He was a great guy and a true unionist, who believed in CWA and what it stood for."
After serving three years in the Navy during World War II, Mayer joined CWA in 1946, as a switchman for Southwestern Bell Telephone in St. Louis. He became vice president, and eventually president, of what is now Local 6310.
He worked nearly two years as temporary staff in St. Louis, servicing locals 6306, 6310, 6320 and 6600, and became a CWA representative in July 1970, taking responsibility for additional locals in the St. Louis area, where he spent his entire career. He retired in 1990.
Mayer was treasurer of the Democratic Club of Gravois Township and of the Gateway Chapter of the Industrial Relations and Research Association, and he served on the executive board of the state AFL-CIO. He lobbied extensively on state legislation for CWA.
Mayer is survived by three daughters, Donna Milligan, Pam Depriest and Karen Ray, all of St. Louis; a son, Charlie Mayer of Tampa, Fla.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
"I could go on for days saying something nice about Emmett," said Rita Voorheis, northern area director in CWA's Sunset Hills, Mo., office, who rose through the ranks in Local 6310, emulating Mayer's example. "He was a great guy and a true unionist, who believed in CWA and what it stood for."
After serving three years in the Navy during World War II, Mayer joined CWA in 1946, as a switchman for Southwestern Bell Telephone in St. Louis. He became vice president, and eventually president, of what is now Local 6310.
He worked nearly two years as temporary staff in St. Louis, servicing locals 6306, 6310, 6320 and 6600, and became a CWA representative in July 1970, taking responsibility for additional locals in the St. Louis area, where he spent his entire career. He retired in 1990.
Mayer was treasurer of the Democratic Club of Gravois Township and of the Gateway Chapter of the Industrial Relations and Research Association, and he served on the executive board of the state AFL-CIO. He lobbied extensively on state legislation for CWA.
Mayer is survived by three daughters, Donna Milligan, Pam Depriest and Karen Ray, all of St. Louis; a son, Charlie Mayer of Tampa, Fla.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.