| Notes |
- United States Secretary of Labor under President Herbert Hoover and was noted for his active accomplishments to get the Davis-Bacon Act passed. Born in Rural Retreat, Wythe County, Virginia, he was employed as a trainman with interest in the Railroad union and became Vice-President of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. He was considered by many as an important American Labor Leader. William Doak filled the position as Representative to the Republican National Convention from 1916 to 1932 and while filling this position became interested in politics. He was appointed United States Secretary of Labor Under Herbert Hoover from Dec. 9, 1930 to March 4, 1933 until President Hoover's term ended. While in the cabinet position of Secretary of Labor, he encouraged the passing of the Davis-Bacon Act, which determined the prevailing wage rate be paid on government contracts or federally funded construction projects. The Act was passed and signed into law by President Hoover March 3, 1931. At the young age of 50, he passed away in Mclean, Virginia due to cardiovascular disease. His casket was accompanied by federal, railroad, and Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen officials, to his old home place in Wythe County and entombed in a granite mausoleum.
He had been placed in a temporary vault at the now defunct and destroyed Abbey Mausoleum, near the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. prior to removal to Rural Retreat, Va. I guess this was for some time to get everything done down there and to let all the brass in D.C. have some time to say their goodbyes
(findagrave)
|
1882 - 1933 (50 years)
