BIG shoot out to my grandfather Cass.. Cass was a union leader that sat down with every major corporation in America to represent working class Americans. He was involved in the Chrysler bailout decades ago that saved millions of jobs and paid a handsome return to tax payers, he was the first to EVER negotiate health care paid by employers (he started that benefit ), hes been a primary force in building the middle class, increasing wages and benefits for workers during his tenure and professional life. He lived on the road for 300+ days a year fighting for workers, never knew his own pay because he lived below his means and invested the rest. He told workers that if he was to go in and negotiate benefits on their behalf they, in turn, had to promise to give the employer an honest days work! Hes been jailed over and over with the people he represented, been a political activist at the highest levels for working Americans and is the most principle centered man Ive ever met. Coming from nothing in NC watching his father be abused in the textile mills in the 40s and watching his family still suffer, had to have had an impact on his lifes course and his passion to fight for working class Americans. Fought a war at 16yrs of age, finished high school at 20... Left an insurance company that just offered him 100,000yr (in the 50s btw) to be the regional manager of the NE area due to his success as a sales person.. He left because the insurance company refused to pay a claim to one farmer that he believed they should have as the policy was written in black and white. He then went to work on an assembly line in Ohio with his brother while he was studying to be an English teacher. His desire to serve and help others led him to start a career in the union and he never looked back. Lol.. He couldnt! The people he represented knew he had their livelyhoods in mind, not his own. Cass Your Vote they would chant as they elected him over and over to the very top of the UAW. Think about that.. Coming from less than nothing, to holding the position of Secretary Treasurer of the United Auto Workers, handling all major negotiations between millions of working class Americans and the major corporations of the world, managing billions in pension funds, having 17+ advisors feeding you insight every day and never knowing your salary becuase you didnt care about a salary. Your success had all been derived because of your heart for others.. All without a college degree.. He cared about people and everyone that worked with and for him or was represented by him knew it. His father was a minister of three churches while working at the textile mill.. his father wanted him to be a minister as well.. he didnt. but he has always told me kevin, my calling is to be an economic minister..hard for families to go to church with empty bellies... Amazing what PASSION can lead one to through their life course... Thats my grandfather, my friend, my mentor, my buddy, an American hero. God bless you Cass! Love you brother!
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:58:59 +0000