Photo by: Dawn Des Brisay

ILWU Columbia River District Council President Jeff Smith (center) received the Pat Quigley Award for outstanding contributions to labor’s political program at the Oregon AFL-CIO Convention in Portland Oct. 18.

Pat Quigley was a longtime member and president of Asbestos Workers Local 36 and a political activist. He died several years ago from liver cancer at the age of 52. The Oregon AFL-CIO established an award in his memory to be given to a union member active in politics. The award was presented by Tim Nesbitt, President of the Oregon AFL-CIO (left) and Brad Witt, Secretary-Treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO (right).

In making the presentation Nesbitt said Smith deserved the award for his never-say-die enthusiasm and tireless commitment to Oregon’s union movement, for feeding hundreds of Labor 2004 volunteers, for fueling the federation’s best-ever political mobilization in 2004 and for always being there for his brothers and sisters on the front.