One of the most well known and influential labor leaders in Southeast Wisconsin, in recent memory, has died. Rudy Kuzel was president of United Auto Workers Local 72 in Kenosha from 1984 to 96.
Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman was a freshman alderman when Chrysler announced it would end car production in 1988, and remembers Kuzel as a strong and outspoken leader during a very emotional time.
Although the automaker ended up relocating 5,000 jobs, County Executive Jim Kreuser said that Kuzel was a major force in helping secure a closeout deal worth millions.
According to current Local president Glen Stark, Kuzel cared as much for the community as the thousands of workers he led at American Motors, which preceded Chrysler.
Rudy Kuzel was 73 when he died at a Racine hospice.
Janet Hoff-WRJN contributed to this report