Today in Wheeling History: June 3—Victor G. Reuther, a prominent international labor organizer and advocate for social democracy, passed away in Washington, D.C., after a lifetime of activism that began in his hometown of Wheeling (2004).
Victor George Reuther was born on January 1, 1912, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Valentine and Anna Stocker Reuther, German immigrants who instilled in their children a strong belief in labor rights and social justice. His father, a brewery worker and union activist, supported Eugene V. Debs, the socialist presidential candidate. Reuther attended West Virginia University as a freshman before transferring to Wayne State University at the urging of his older brother, Walter Reuther, who later became president of the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Victor and Walter traveled to Europe and Asia, working at the Gorky Automotive Plant in the Soviet Union, where they led a strike for safer working conditions before being expelled. Returning to the U.S. in 1936, Victor helped organize the General Motors Strike in Flint, Michigan, using a loudspeaker to rally workers. He later became the head of the UAW’s Education Department and played a key role in labor movements worldwide. Reuther passed away on June 3, 2004, at age 92, leaving behind a legacy of labor activism.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y6dkr76j), FamilySearch (https://tinyurl.com/2sxuxn9u), WikiTree (https://tinyurl.com/2sxuxn9u), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/42wepn65), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4f46hbyw)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, Weelunk
Victor George Reuther was born on January 1, 1912, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Valentine and Anna Stocker Reuther, German immigrants who instilled in their children a strong belief in labor rights and social justice. His father, a brewery worker and union activist, supported Eugene V. Debs, the socialist presidential candidate. Reuther attended West Virginia University as a freshman before transferring to Wayne State University at the urging of his older brother, Walter Reuther, who later became president of the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Victor and Walter traveled to Europe and Asia, working at the Gorky Automotive Plant in the Soviet Union, where they led a strike for safer working conditions before being expelled. Returning to the U.S. in 1936, Victor helped organize the General Motors Strike in Flint, Michigan, using a loudspeaker to rally workers. He later became the head of the UAW’s Education Department and played a key role in labor movements worldwide. Reuther passed away on June 3, 2004, at age 92, leaving behind a legacy of labor activism.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y6dkr76j), FamilySearch (https://tinyurl.com/2sxuxn9u), WikiTree (https://tinyurl.com/2sxuxn9u), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/42wepn65), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4f46hbyw)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, Weelunk
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