Oliver, William H., 1915-

William H. Oliver was born in 1915 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he attended public school and later graduated from Tennessee State College. He served as assistant editor of the Chattanooga World prior to moving to Detroit in 1937. In 1941, Oliver became the first African American to serve on the executive board of UA W Ford Local 400. He became a staff member of the International in 1945 and since 1946, has served as co-director of the Fair Practices and Anti-Discrimination Department with UAW President Walter Reuther.