Title
Honoring the life and mourning the loss of Samuel Staten, Sr.
Body
WHEREAS, The Greater Philadelphia region and the nation experienced a great loss with the passing of Samuel Staten, Sr. on Tuesday April 26, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Samuel Staten, Sr. was born in Jacksonville, Florida, came to Philadelphia as a youth and was educated in the Philadelphia School system; and
WHEREAS, Samuel Staten, Sr. had been in the labor industry for over 50 years. He rose through the ranks working 10 years as a construction laborer before becoming a Local 332 Field Representative in 1970; and
WHEREAS, In 1973 he was appointed Assistant Business Manager and in August 1978 he was elected the Business Manager, and held that position for three decades, and later served in a advisory role; and
WHEREAS, As the longtime Business Manager of Laborers' Local #332 and the former Secretary-Treasurer of the Laborers' District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia & Vicinity, Samuel Staten, Sr. without question deserves much of the credit for the tremendous gains that his beloved Laborers Union achieved under his forty years leadership; and
WHEREAS, In March 2010, Sam officially retired from Laborers' Local #332 and the Laborers' District Council; and
WHEREAS, At a tribute dinner in honor of Sam's retirement in 2010, Sam shared these thoughts:
I can remember the old timers talking about how things had changed and I couldn't imagine what they were saying. Now today I look back and think about the roads over which I've traveled and it's amazing. I can remember my first pay rate was $2.60 per hour. We had no health and welfare; we had no pension, dental or legal plan. It was a different world for Laborers. We have come a long way and now have the power to truly help those in need; and
WHEREAS, Sam ended his remarks in the impassioned tone many came to admire and respect:
Never forget our purpose. Never ...
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