Glenn Shuck, retired executive director of Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA), died March 26 at age 82.
Shuck was eating lunch at a restaurant with his son when he collapsed. He passed away the following day surrounded by family and friends.
Shuck served as executive director of LCSA from February 1993 until his retirement in June 2010. He joined the LCSA staff in 1985 following the closure of Oregon Steel Mills after a lengthy strike by Steelworkers Local 3010. Shuck was president of the local.
As a labor liaison at LCSA, Shuck worked with partner agencies to develop the initial Dislocated Workers’ Job Training Partnership Act Title III project for Multnomah and Washington counties. He also helped plan, develop, and implement pre-layoff (rapid response) services for the Portland Metro labor market.
He was appointed executive director in 1993 after executive director Del Ricks suffered a debilitating heart attack.
As director, Shuck founded LCSA’s Emergency Assistance Program (now referred to as Helping Hands), which raises thousands of dollars and serves hundreds of families in temporary hardship situations. He also established an annual holiday food basket and toy distribution program for inner city kids, and a neighborhood “family dinner” night for at-risk youth.
During his career Shuck served on numerous executive boards, including the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC), United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Worksystems, Inc., the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County, and as outreach coordinator to the Veterans Workforce Investment Program.
Following his retirement in 2010, NOLC presented him with the inaugural Del Ricks Community Service Award at its annual Labor Appreciation Night banquet. He also received United Way’s Award of Excellence and its individual award for inspiring union leadership in the United Way campaign, along with a Volunteers of America All-Star Citizen award.
Glenn Shuck was born Oct. 31, 1936, in Creston, Washington. When he was 12 his family moved to Portland. He attended Roosevelt High School.
Shuck got his first union card at age 17 working as a bike messenger for Western Union. He left that job — and high school — to join the Air Force. Returning to Portland four years later, he bounced from job to job. Along the way he held union cards with the Longshoremen, Telegraph Union, Woodworkers, Teamsters, Printing Specialties, Machinists, Textile Workers, Laborers, Lumber and Sawmill Workers, and finally the Steelworkers (now Local 335), and as an associate member of Office and Professional Employees Local 11.
Shuck met and married Beverly Phillips in 1964. She had four children from a previous marriage, and together they had one child, Glenn P. Shuck. Beverly preceded him in death on May 30, 2017, after 53 years of marriage.
Shuck coached Little League and Senior Babe Ruth baseball in North Portland for 17 years and, in 1974, was named “Baseball Man of the Year” by the Amateur Baseball Association.
After retiring, Shuck served as president of the Oregon Military Support Network. In December 2013 that organization recognized a dozen union locals for their work helping veterans.
Shuck is survived by his children, 15 grandchildren, 25 great- grandchildren, and two great- great grandchildren.
No service had been scheduled at press time. Remembrances can be sent to the veterans club “Voiture Locale 99 of the 40 et 8”, 7607 NE 26th Ave., Vancouver, Wash., 98665-0637, or to 5805 N. Burrage Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97217.
