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UAW Board Elects Nate Gooden to Fill Vacancy

1 November 1999

UAW Board Elects Nate Gooden to Fill Vacancy

    DETROIT, Nov. 1 -- The International Union, UAW announced
today that the International Executive Board has selected Nate Gooden, the
current director of UAW Region 1, to fill the vacancy created by the death of
Jack Laskowski.  Gooden was nominated by UAW Region 4 director, Paul Korman.
The vote of the board in support of Gooden was unanimous.
    "Nate Gooden brings years of solid UAW experience and achievement to this
new responsibility.  I am delighted that he will be adding his voice and
leadership ability to the UAW officer team," said UAW President Stephen P.
Yokich in making the announcement.
    "It's a privilege to serve our members at any level and serving as a Vice
President is a tremendous honor.  I look forward to this opportunity,"
commented Gooden.
    Nate Gooden was elected director of UAW Region 1 in June 1998 at the
Union's 32nd Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas.
    He joined the UAW in 1964 at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly plant of
Local 140 in Detroit, where he worked in the chassis department.
    In 1967, he was elected chief steward of Local 140 and served three
consecutive terms.  He was elected vice president in 1973 and was elected
president of the local in 1975.
    In June 1977, Gooden was appointed to the Region 1 staff by then-Regional
Director Stephen P. Yokich, a position Gooden held until his election as
regional director.
    Gooden was born on April 14, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan.  He attended
Lincoln High School in Ferndale, Michigan, and received his GED while serving
in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958.  He later attended Wayne State
University's Labor Studies program.
    Gooden is a lifelong member of the NAACP, and a registered and active
member of the Democratic Party.  He is also an active member of the New Mount
Vernon Baptist Church in Ferndale.
    He lives in Southfield, Michigan.  He has four children, two girls and two
boys:  Twana, Jeanean, Tyrone and Nate.