Coet Combs oral history interview, December 7, 2011

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: CombsC_L2012-04

Staff Only

Coet Combs oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Rachel Bernstein. Combs describes his early life and family background in rural Kentucky, and his father’s involvement with the United Mine Workers. Combs recalls his education at Hindman boarding school and his decision to join the United States Navy. Combs describes the military and unionized civilian employment that he held prior to joining the IAMAW. Combs discusses the effect that the political environment of the late 1960s and early 1970s, including race relations and the Vietnam War, had on local lodge 39. Combs discusses a 1977 strike of several NASA contractors in Wallops Island, VA while he was serving as business representative for district lodge 74. Combs then describes his move to the International lodge and the various positions that he held and relocations that he was subject to over that time period. Combs also comments on the problem of sexual harassment as he observed from an officer’s perspective, and the political support for and against unions that he experienced in the various locations that he worked over the years.

Dates

Creation: December 7, 2011

Creator

Combs, Coet (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Coet Combs was born January 30, 1942 in the small town of Decoy, Kentucky to Dan and Media Combs. One of ten children, Combs came from a labor family, as his father was a coal miner who worked to organize for the United Mine Workers in Kentucky. Prior to joining the IAMAW, Combs held other jobs in the United States Navy (active duty and civil service) and with the Flintkote Corporation and General Electric, where he held union membership and leadership positions in the Laborers Union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the International Union of Electrical Workers. Combs came to the IAMAW through local lodge 39 (later local 97) in 1968 when he began working for the Norfolk Naval Air Rework Facility. Combs was pulled off the shop floor in 1975 upon being elected as business representative to district lodge 74. In 1977, Combs moved to the International lodge as a grand lodge representative, a position that he held for ten years. Combs held many other positions in the International lodge from 1987 until his retirement in 2005, including administrative assistant to the General Vice President of the Great Lakes territory, assistant legislative director, director of the Government Affairs Department, and special assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer.