Beck, Dave, 1894-1993

David Lemuel Beck was born in poverty on June 16, 1894, in Stockton, California to Lemuel and Mary Beck. His first union job was as a laundry driver in Seattle, Washington where he became a member of Teamsters Local 566 Laundry and Dye Works Drivers. He was elected to the executive board of Local 566 in 1920 then in 1923 he was named president of Joint Council 28. In 1927 he was elected president of Local 566 in 1927 and that same year, he was hired by the international union as a full-time organizer. In 1940, he was elected vice-president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and then General President of the union in 1952. He led the IBT until 1957 when he stepped down after invoking the 5th amendment against self-incrimination during congressional hearings investigating labor racketeering. Beck is credited with founding the Conference system of organization for the IBT. After leaving office, Beck was convicted of tax evasion and imprisoned for three years. He was later pardoned by Washington Governor Albert Rosellini and by President Gerald Ford. He died on December 26, 1993 in Seattle, Washington.