Wayne E. Glenn passed away on January 3rd, 2021. Mr. Glenn dedicated his life to the labor movement and workers' rights, culminating in becoming President of the United Paperworkers International Union for 18 years. Mr. Glenn served as a mentor to many in the labor movement and the fight for social justice. He devoted his life to the service of others and to his country.
Wayne was born in Oklahoma on August 24, 1924. He was raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas where at a young age he worked in a logging camp and witnessed the harsh and unjust treatment of the employees. This would have a profound influence on his life.
At the age of 17, Wayne enlisted in the U.S. Navy to fight in WWII. During the Battle of Guadalcanal he served as a tail gunner on dive bombers. After surviving that tough campaign, Wayne was shipped back stateside to use his experience to train others and learned to become a radio operator. He was called to serve his country once again in the Korean war from 1950 to 1952. After WWII he returned to Arkansas where he worked in a paper mill and became active in the Union. It was during this time that he met his future wife Gracie. They would remain married for 56 years until her passing in 2003.
Wayne's outgoing, determined and dedicated personality mixed well with his tasks for the Union, and during his career he would hold many positions... Local Recording Secretary, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Secretary of the Arkansas State AFL. He would become the first President of the Arkansas State AFL-CIO, an AFL-CIO International Representative, a nine state Regional Director and then became President of the United International Paperworkers Union, an office he would hold until his retirement in 1996, having spent 50 years with the Union. During his tenure as Union President, he would also serve as Chairman of the Board for the United Paperworkers Union-Management Pension Fund. Throughout his career he was known as an outstanding arbitrator and could match wits with even the most skilled attorneys.
In his private life, he was an excellent golfer, loved horse racing, was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan, cat lover and was a deeply beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Wayne and Gracie were blessed during their lives with two daughters, Linda Gail Cottrell (Will) and Deborah Glenn Corzine (Doug), as well as a granddaughter and grandson, Tuesday Rene Frase (April), and Jason Robert Frase.
Due to the public health emergency, a family private graveside service is being held Saturday, January 9th, arranged by Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, Brentwood TN.
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