Talman and Frasier both lost their lives in tragic and unfortunate situations. They were nominated by members and friends of Afscme Local 114, says Linda Morgan, Local President.

• Frasier, who worked for the City of Bellingham's Public Works Water Department, was well liked by everyone in the department, says a letter from his fellow workers.
  “We all enjoyed working with Jack; he put a little humor into work every day,” they say. “He always had a story to tell about the years he spent in the fishing industry, but the things that Jack liked to talk about the most was his family. Jack had a wonderful wife, two daughters and a son”.
  His colleagues say they learned from Jack that you should enjoy life while you have it and live it to the fullest.
• Talman, who also worked in the Water Department, had a great sense of humor and was well liked by everyone, a letter from his colleagues says. He liked to hunt and go fishing often.
  “Tragically, Glenn was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer the summer of 1996,” says a letter from colleagues.
  “Instead of giving up, Glenn decided to fight the cancer and went through several stages of agonizing treatments, sickness, weight loss, the loss of his hair, and emotional drain. Between treatments, Glenn still found the strength to come to work and do anything in his power to help the water department even though he was feeling weak and sick.
  “Glenn taught us to do the best in everything you do, and make every day count.”

JoAnn McFadden was an active member of Local 275 and worked for the Grays Harbor County Health Department, administering the TAPP (Teenage Pregnancy Program). She took a lot of public heat for her progressive ideas on the Tapp program, caring more about the teens in her program than public politics, says Trina Young, vice president of Afscme Local 275. She worked hard and diligently, finding grants and other funding to keep the program going.
“For years JoAnn promoted the value of the Union to her peers, and was an outspoken advocate for the Union during two unsuccessful decertification attempts, Young says.
“After a long and hard-fought battle, JoAnn succumbed to cancer in January, 1998. The scholarship is intended to help the teens she so dearly loved”