Fred Waggoner oral history interview, December 7, 2011

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: WaggonerF_L2012-13

Staff Only

Fred Waggoner oral history

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Rachel Bernstein. Waggoner discusses growing up on a farm with many siblings. His family had no knowledge of unions, but after Waggoner gets back from the war he decides to take a union job at a glass factory. He then works for Pacific Intermountain Express where he gets more involved with the local. He moves from shop steward to chief steward on to secretary-treasurer. He talks about all of his positions held and getting involved with the District and Grand Lodge. He discusses being a business representative and what the politics were like in Colorado. He talks about how the positions he held influenced his family life as well. Waggoner goes on to explain working on Red Smith's organizing team and his negotiating strategies. Towards the end of Waggoner's career he worked for vice presidents Jensen and Jim Malott and he talks about his responsibilities at that time. He then talks about the flood in Chicago and how organizing effected his family life negatively. Waggoner ends the oral history talking about meeting his wife and his family history.

Dates

Creation: December 7, 2011

Creator

Waggoner, Fred, 1926- (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Fred Waggoner was born on November 8, 1926 in Oklahoma but spent most of his early years in Colorado with a farming family. He was drafted to the Army in 1945. He came back shortly and worked with his brother as an auto mechanic. Later he joined the union at a glass factory. Then he worked for a short period at the GMC dealership and then for 3 years he worked in parts for Pacific Intermountain Express in the Teamsters' Union. Waggoner then had a mechanic apprenticeship. He quickly moved on to become shop steward. Other positions he held were chief steward and secretary-treasurer (for his local and District 86). Waggoner switches to organizing and is elected business representative of the district in 1960. In 1968 he becomes business rep for the Grand Lodge. Waggoner then moves out of Colorado to go to the Intelco plant in 1970. Two years later he was back to his original assignment in Denver and eventually became the AA to Stanley and Jim Malott. His last three working years were spent organizing with Malott.