View source for Hunter P. Wharton

{{Short description|American labor union leader}}
'''Hunter Poisal Wharton''' (October 20, 1900 &ndash; November 14, 1980) was an American labor union leader.
Born in [[Martinsburg, West Virginia]], Wharton was educated at the [[Carnegie Institute of Technology]].  He began working in [[Pittsburgh]], and in 1926 joined the [[International Union of Operating Engineers]] (IUOE).  In 1930, he was elected as business agent of his local union.  He also served as president of the Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council, and began working for the IUOE as an international representative.<ref name="fink">{{cite book |last1=Fink |first1=Gary |title=Biographical Dictionary of American Labor |date=1984 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=0313228655}}</ref>
In 1950, Wharton became the full-time assistant to the union's general president.  In 1955, he was elected as a trustee of the union, and then in 1957 as a vice-president.  In 1958, he was elected as secretary-treasurer of the IUOE, and then in 1962 as the union's president.<ref name="fink" />  His obituary in the ''[[New York Times]]'' described him as having a reputation for integrity, in a union which had previously been known for corruption.<ref name="mcfadden">{{cite news |last1=McFadden |first1=Robert |title=Hunter Wharton, 80; Long a Union Leader In Construction Field: Advocate of Safety Rules |work=New York Times |date=November 15, 1980}}</ref>
From 1965, Wharton additionally served as a vice-president of the [[AFL-CIO]], and on the federation's executive council.  He chaired the federation's education committee, and also held leading posts in the [[National Safety Council]].<ref name="fink" />  He played a leading role in getting the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1970, passed.  He promoted increased construction of housing, especially for elderly people, and worked to recruit more African Americans into the union.<ref name="mcfadden" />
Wharton retired in 1975, becoming president emeritus of the union.  He served on the board of the [[National Council of Senior Citizens]], and also served terms as president of the [[Fraternal Order of Eagles]], and commander of the [[Knights of Malta]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hunter P. Wharton Dies; Head of Engineers' Union |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 15, 1980}}</ref>
==References==
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{{succession box|title=President of the [[International Union of Operating Engineers]]|years=1962&ndash;1975|before=Joseph J. Delaney|after=[[J. C. Turner]]}}
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[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:American trade union leaders]]
[[Category:People from Martinsburg, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from West Virginia]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of the AFL-CIO]]