2000 Woman of the Year - Doris Crouse-Mays, Field Director, Dept. Field Mobilization AFL-CIO, TNG/CWA Local #35
Doris was born on November 18, 1958, in Wythe County. She is the daughter and youngest of 3 children of Gladys Crouse and the late Fred Roscoe Crouse. Doris graduated from Rural Retreat High School in 1977 as an honor student. She was voted "the best all around" and "most school spirited". While at Rural Retreat High School, Doris was captain of the cheerleaders and a member of the gymnastic team. In 1981, she graduate Wytheville Community College as an honor student with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Police Science, a certificate in corrections and a certicate in Criminal Justice.
Doris began her union career in 1979 as a member of CWA Local 10871, now Local 3871, as a telephone operator for United Telephone Company in Wytheville, VAwhere she served as chief steward and a memebr of the executive board. While an operator, she received a commendation from the company for placing more long distance calls per hour than any other operator in the history of the company.
The operator toll center closed in 1984. Doris then became a member of CWA Local 2261 when she went to work for AT&T Technoogies in Radford, VA where she served as unoin steward and Secretary/Treasurer of the Local. In 1986 she was the scholarship recipient to the Southern School for Union Women at George Mason University. In 1987, she was laid off by AT&T who denied her recall rights because of her testimony in an unemployment hearing for a fellow union member. The plant closed and moved to Mexico in 1991.
From 1987 to 1990, Doris worked as a guard at Radford Army and Ammunition Plant where she later helped to organize the guards. During her employment as a guard, she qualified each year as a revolver expert.
In 1990, Doris went to work for the Upper South Department of the ILGWU, now UNITE, as an oganizer. Her first assignment was to unionize a new TJ MAXX Distribution Center in Las Vegas, NV. The center was organized in 1991, with Doris signing up more workers than anyone.
In 1992, she returned to her hom Union - CWA, as the Organizing Coordinator for District 2. In 1994, Doris was CWA's only representative to the fifth IMF World Electrical and Electronics Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. At this conference she was the only woman that served on two pannels. In 1995, under her leadership, the District received the Joe Beirne Award, CWA's highest award in organizing for conducting four elections and winning three in one year.
Doris went to work for the AFL-CIO in the Department of Field Mobilization as the Virginia State Field Director in 1997. She is now a member of the Newspaper Guild (TNG/CWA) Local 35 and serves as Union Steward for the Southern Region.
She has been a member of CLUW since 1993, where she has conducted and facilitated workshops at CLUW's National Conventions.
Doris residen in Vinton, VA with her husband, Michal Mays, Business Agent for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 100.