The former Laborers business manager helped build Portland.
Steven Magnett, former business manager of Laborers Local 296 (now Local 737), died Dec. 16 at 78 years old.
Magnett spent more than 30 years as a member of Local 296.
Born June 2, 1946, in Onaga, Kansas, Magnett grew up in Portland and graduated from Roosevelt High School. He joined the union in 1969 after returning home from a tour in the army. He joined the local’s executive board and sought further leadership positions, eventually getting hired as a field representative in 1979.
Magnett led Local 296 for a term as business manager but lost a reelection bid in 1992. Two candidates tied with 164 votes each, leading to a tie-breaking coin flip. Magnett called tails, losing the position, the Labor Press reported at the time.
Magnett’s widow, Linda Magnett, said he was a very loyal union member and always on the pro-labor side of any issue.
As a business agent in the 1980s, Magnett was appointed to the City of Portland Economic Development Advisory Commission and served on the Multnomah County Labor Council and the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council as a delegate for Local 296.
“He loved working there. Some of the work was really, really hard, but he took a lot of pride in it,” Linda Magnett said.
When people would ask Magnett what he did for work, he would say he laid concrete, Linda Magnett said. “But he did so much more than that,” she said.
Steve Magnett poured concrete for big buildings that were built in Portland in the 1970s and 1980s. Driving around town, he’d proudly point out buildings he’d worked on, Linda Magnett said.
Local 296 later merged with Laborers Locals 121 and 320 to form Local 737.
