Walter P. Reuther Memorial Dedication October 12, 2006
By UAW Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

At 11:00AM October 12, 2006 the International Union UAW and the city of Wheeling, West Virginia will come together to dedicate a memorial to one of labor’s greatest leaders and one of Wheeling’s favorite sons. The Walter P. Reuther Memorial dedication will be held at the Heritage Port Upper Plaza along the Ohio River in Wheeling. Famed UAW President Walter Reuther was born in Wheeling on September 01, 1907 and went on to be a driving force in organized labor and is credited by many to be the father of America’s middle class.

On hand for the dedication will be over 40 members of the Reuther family, including Christine Reuther Richey, the younger sister of Walter Reuther. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel will lead the proceedings which will include the official unveiling of the statue created by Zanesville, Ohio Artist Alan Cottrill. The memorial features a seven foot bronze statue of Walter Reuther and sits atop a granite pedestal inscribed with the famed Reuther quote “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” The statue is also flanked by placards that tell the story of Walter Reuther’s rise within the UAW and his work for America’s working class families.

The memorial has been financed by the International UAW but has been put together with the help of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation under the direction of Hydie Friend. The WNHAC has been working toward building a walk along the waterfront that leads community efforts to recognize, communicate and preserve Wheeling’s heritage. The Reuther Memorial is another in a line of exhibits to tell the story of Wheeling’s role of industrializing the gateway to the mid west.

The dedication of the memorial is part of the UAW Region 8 Civil Rights Conference that is taking place in Wheeling this week. Also participating in the event will be 450 8th grade students from Ohio County, West Virginia. West Virginia’s eight graders study the state’s history, with the life of Walter Reuther being incorporated into the curriculum. The entire 8th grade class of the county has been invited to take part in this historic event.

Check back to the UAW Region 8 website for a full report from the dedication service on October 12, 2006.