CWA Pioneer LeFevre Dies at 101; Served as District 5 Vice President

May 1, 2009

Arthur LeFevre, a retired vice president of the former CWA District 5, was one of CWA's oldest retired staff members before his death at age 101 on March 8, 2009.

LeFevre was an early union activist when he joined Wisconsin Bell as a records clerk in 1930. A member and officer of the Telephone Guild of Wisconsin, LeFevre played a role in the development of the National Federation of Telephone Workers, CWA's predecessor organization. During the 1947 telephone strike, he served as Wisconsin strike director. In 1948, the year CWA was founded, LeFevre joined the staff as Wisconsin director.

He became assistant district director in 1953 and District 5 director in 1964. Following his election as District 5 vice president in 1966, the district organized hundreds of telephone employees in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. He retired in 1971.