In Memoriam: Acie Byrd & Lynn Williams

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Longtime local activist Acie Byrd has died at the age of 77 following a battle with cancer. Byrd (right) was among an estimated quarter of a million U.S. military personnel exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear tests and became a leading advocate for fellow atomic veterans, calling for healthcare compensation and a comprehensive test ban treaty. In 1977, Byrd was one of the founding members of Pacifica station WPFW in Washington, where he served as a local and national commentator and board member for many years. “Marginalized back in the day for his efforts, Acie never stopped being the conscience of his union,” said Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams. “As in every other aspect of his life, Acie stuck firmly to his beliefs and fought the good fight. He’ll be sorely missed.”

Lynn R. Williams, the son of a Canadian mill-town minister who led the United Steelworkers (USW) during a turbulent decade of steel industry consolidation, died May 5 at age 89. Williams (left) “held this union together through the worst of times, the massive bankruptcies and consolidations in the U.S. steel industry,” said USW President Leo W. Gerard. Click here for the USW’s complete report.