Eugene J Mays was born and raised in Fairmount West Virginia. There he started his career as a coal miner and helped to unionize his co-workers into the United Mine Workers under John l. Lewis.
After Gene's discharge from the Army in 1947, he moved to Buffalo where he was employed at the Western Electric Company. There he became a member of the Communications Workers of America and rose to the Presidency of Local 1162, which represented the Western Electric employees.
In 1951 Mr. Mays became a CWA international Representative and in 1963 was elected to Director of the Union's Upstate New York area. Six years later he was promoted to Assistant Vice President of CWA District 1 and moved to District Headquarters in New York City.
While in Buffalo, Gene was an activist in the Black community and prominent in organizations for improved racial relations.
He was a Buffalo AFL-CIO Council Board Member, a Director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of WNY, a Director of Community Action Organization of Buffalo and the Black Business Development Corp. He also was a member of the Mayor's Council on youth Opportunity and the Board of Managers, Michigan Ave. Branch YMCA.
His untimely death left many black people with one less effective leader and the CWA with a void that has been difficult to fill. But we remember Gene for what he left behind. His ways taught all of us the real meaning of love, dedication, devotion, understanding, compassion and equality.
He has helped all of us. For those reasons we feel it is appropriate to establish a scholarship fund in his name.
Scholarship Winners 2023
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Blake Gradl Deborah Gradl 1168
Kyle Cohen Jill Cohen 1122
Ashley Blasz Thomas Blasz 1115
Abigail Ander Scott Ander 1122
Jonah Lewis Brigitte Lewis 1168
Santino Burgas Michelle Burgas 1133
Nathaniel Bender Kimberley Bender 1133
Isabella Miller Alicia Miller 1168
Dylan Crowley Judith Huntington-Crowley 1168
Julie Antonio Thomas Antonio 1122
Scholarship Winners 2022
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Keira Dickey Cynthia Dickey 31026
Rachel Zak Mary Zak 1115
Evan Vickers Nicole Vickers 1168
Ryan Carney Karen Carney 1168
Kyrsten Ripple Brenda Ripple 1133
Julianna Pauly Cheryl Pauly 1168
Max Wozniak Michele Wozniak 1168
Lindsay Hocking David Hocking 1122
Nicholas Wright Karen Wright 1168
Alix Novack Alisa Novack 1122
Scholarship Winners 2021
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Lindsey Mayer Dennis Mayer 1133
Michael Padowski Rhonda Kaiser 1168
Jessica Jonczyk Joanna Jonczyk 1122
Alix Novack Alisa Novack 1122
Casey Swain Amanda Beard 1168
Alica Morrison Nancy Morrison 1168
Amanda Ernst Carl Ernst 1122
Kenya Sanders Cynethia Sanders 1168
Zachory DeCarolis Robert Millich 1115
Alaina Lanthier Kimberly Lanthier 1168
Scholarship Winners 2020
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Lauren Vickers Nicole Vickers 1168
Sarah Struble Laura Struble 14148
Jacob Wiegand Sherry Crosier 1122
Kenya Sanders Cynthia Sanders 1168
Joel Hocking David Hocking 1122
Bridget Helak Karen Mahoney 1168
Anthony Sullivan Laura Clark 1168
Aliyah Sanders Andrea Daniel-Sanders 1168
Abigal Ochs Mary Beth Ochs 1168
Drew Werner James Werner 1115
Scholarship Winners 2019
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Kelsey Wood Jean Wood 1133
Alexander Silfies Timberle Swaydin 1133
Devon Crowley Judith Huntington-Crowley 1168
Mikayla Howard Karen Howard 1168
Victoria Zak Mary Xak 1122
Allison Bennett Cheryl Bennett 1122
Matthew Kongesor Carla Kongesor 1133
Gena Long Gena Long 1133
Tyler Ostolski Rene Mortin 1168
Cale Silvestry Michelle Silvestri 1168
Scholarship Winners 2018
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Sarah Wilcox Shirley Wilcox 1168
Paige Meidenbauer Lynne Meidenbauer 1168
Jessica Cmor Dawn Cmor 1168
Allison Schmitz Eric Schmitz 1122
Amber Enright William Enright 1122
Devon Crowley Judith Huntington-Crowley 1168
Marcie Shreve Carrie Shreve 1168
Scholarship Winners 2017
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Lindsay Powers Debra Powers 1168
Stephan Parker Stephanie Davis 1168
Alexandra Haefele Charles Haefele 1122
Cydney Temple Kevin Fix 1133
Nicole Sobus Sharon Sobus 1168
Gabriella Rosati Julie Hanley 1168
Rachael Struble Laura Struble 14148
Liam St. Pierre Rose St. Pierre 1168
Scholarship Winners 2016
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Joseph Hardy Christine Auria 1168
Elaina Marino Annmarie Marino 1168
Rebecca Spinaris Self 1133
Matthew West Robert West 1122
Kevin Kohut Joseph Kohut 1122
Kayla Ballard Annette Ford 1168
Ashley Arsenault Laurie Arsenault 1168
Stephanie Densmore David Densmore 1115
Scholarship Winners 2015
Scholarship Winner Sponsoring Member Local
Chelsea Schelter Terri Schelter 1168
Brittany Klimtzak Raymond Klimtzak 1122
Brandon Hardy Christine Auria 1168
Megan Starner Doris Starner 1168
Stacy Dicenso Daniel Dicenso 1168
Brandon Woodard Aloma Davis 1168
Jordan Quattrini Carlene Deacy 1168
Alexis Watters Denise Watters 1168
Scholarship Winners 2014
Vincent Terragnoli.................Local 1168
Sarah Shepler.......................Local 1122
Jillian Janczyk........................Local 1168
Justin Fudala.........................Local 1168
LeShate Rosenthal...............Local 1168
Hannah Twardowski.............Local 1133
Joseph Tronolone.................Local 1133
Christian Boettcher...............Local 1168
Scholarship Winners 2013
Cassandra Perry..................Local 1168
Kailey Ziemianski..................Local 1133
Brittany Broasch...................Local 14177
Rachel Pawlak......................Local 1168
Ashley Smith.........................Local 1122
Maria Ta................................Local 14177
Maria Grey.............................Local 1122
Michael Helak........................Local 1168
Scholarship Winners 2012
Joshua Andrusko...................Local 1168
Randy Bloom Jr.....................Local 1122
Colleen Czerwiec...................Local 1168
Brian Durham.......................Local 1133
Meghan Dolina......................Local 1133
Aaron Mycek.........................Local 1133
Jordan Quattrini....................Local 1168
Rebecca Twardowski..............Local 1133