SAMUEL E. LATHEM
President
Samuel E. Lathem was born October 1943 to Letty and James Lathem in Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. The family moved to Chester, PA and Sam attended the Chester Upland School District. He lived three years in Kankakee, Illinois with his Uncle, Rev. Doc John Thompson. Sam enlisted in the US Army in 1963 and spent the majority of his time at Fort Hood, Texas, 1st Armored Division. In 1965 Sam began work at the Chrysler Plant in Newark, Delaware.
Sam was elected and served two 3-year terms as Chief Steward in the Body Shop at theNewark Assembly Plant. He was appointed as Civil Rights Chairman of Local 1183UAW. He was then assigned the position of Administrator of the UAW-Chrysler Training Center in 1990 and was promoted to an International Rep of the UAW in February 1999. On October 4, 2003 Sam was elected as the President Delaware State AFL-CIO a position he currently holds.
Sam was ordained a Baptist Preacher in 1992 at the First Baptist Church of Morton, Pennsylvania. He currently serves as Associate Minister at Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church in Wilmington, Delaware.
Sam was appointed by Governor Dale Wolf to serve on Interagency Council on Literacy, by Governor Carper to serve on the Board of Directors for the Diamond State Port Corporation (Port of Wilmington), the Workforce Investment Board, Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council. Also serves as Chairman of Delaware Advisory Council on Career and Vocational Education and appointed by Governor Minner to serve as Commissioner on the Board of Directors of the Delaware River Bay Authority. Sam serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement, Kids Count Steering Committee, and the 4-H Foundation Committee, Tech Prep Delaware and the Board of Directors of SURJ (Stand up for What's Right and Just). Sam is married to Jean Lathem and has two stepsons and two grandsons. He serves as Grand Chaplain to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge State and Jurisdiction of Delaware.