Karen Weaver's Fight for Clean Water November 2017 | Page 26

HONOR, LOYALTY, INTEGRITY
However, Chewe taught himself how to type and run mimeograph
machines, which were considered high tech. This proved beneficial for
him. On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order
9981 and desegregated the United States Armed Forces. Chewe was
prepared. His high tech skills enabled him to be one of the few African
Americans working in the Navy’s coveted office positions where he was
stationed.
Returning to Flint, he attended General Motors Institute, (currently known
as Kettering University) to study engineering and pattern making. Mural
and Maggie were blessed with four children, Gregory, Gwendolyn,
Merlynn, and Marcia. They also raised three of their grandchildren, Lamar,
Lanisha and Chantel.
After his completion from the program at GMI- he was qualified to work in
Pattern Making or Tool and Die. He was the first African –American to
complete the is program. However, for nearly 5 years, he was not given the
apprenticeship he trained for. The UAW, NAACP, and Urban League got
involved and threatened to sue GM so that he could enter the
apprenticeship program.
CONT’D