A RESOLUTION

 

1Honoring the life and career of Wendell W. Young, III, President
2Emeritus of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local
31776, Philadelphia labor relations leader and advocate for
4workers' rights and extending condolences to his family.

5WHEREAS, Wendell W. Young, III, a husband, father,
6grandfather, friend and committed trade unionist, passed away on
7January 1, 2013, at 74 years of age; and

8WHEREAS, Mr. Young was born in 1938 in the City of
9Philadelphia's Mayfair section, and as a sophomore at Northeast
10Catholic High School he was employed as a part-time worker at
11Acme Markets, becoming an active member and steward of the
12Retail Clerks Union Local 1357; and

13WHEREAS, After graduating from St. Joseph's University with a

1degree in political science, Mr. Young began his career as a
2labor leader when at 23 years of age he was named president of
3Retail Clerks Union Local 1357, now known as the United Food and
4Commercial Workers Local 1776; and

5WHEREAS, While serving for 43 years as the President of the
6United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, Mr. Young became
7personally responsible for saving the jobs of thousands of union
8members when he engineered the labor agreement which formed
9Super Fresh Markets; and

10WHEREAS, Renowned as a visionary and innovator, Mr. Young was
11instrumental in the implementation of benefits for workers,
12including the first prepaid legal program, pension benefit
13program, child care assistance program and higher education
14program; and

15WHEREAS, Dedicating his career to workers' rights, Mr. Young
16acted not only as an advocate for workers, but also as a civic
17and community leader, serving with the Pennsylvania State
18Chapter of the AFL-CIO and on the boards of the Sisters of the
19Blessed Sacrament and the Northeast Catholic High School Alumni
20Association; and

21WHEREAS, Throughout Mr. Young's career, he received numerous
22awards and honors from entities such as the International
23Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the St. Joseph's
24University Brother Bartholomew A. Sheehan Award; therefore be it

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its
26sadness upon the passing of Wendell W. Young, III, and offer its
27most sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it
28further

29RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
30the family of Wendell W. Young, III.