W. J. Usery, Jr.

February 10, 1976 to January 20, 1977

From Georgia; Georgia Military College and Mercer University; U.S. Navy in World War II in the Pacific. Machinist with Armstrong Cork; active in International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), represented the union at Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Center; chaired Cape Kennedy Labor-Management Relations Council; Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Management Relations; Director, FMCS.

Appointed by Gerald Ford. Used his talents for mediation to prevent many incipient disputes and solve others, such as the longest strike ever in the rubber industry and a potentially crippling trucking strike.

Went on to found and serve as chair of the Friends of the Department of Labor. In 1990, mediated a settlement of the United Mine Workers of America's protracted strike at the Pittston, VA, mine and chaired a commission concerned with miners' health and pension issues.

Portrait Artist: Everett R. Kinstler