Uncrowned Community Builders

Charles was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 23, 1926, the third son of five boys born to the late Sherman and Sylvia Price. Soon after Charles's birth, the family moved to Buffalo, the city in western New York where, in time, Charles would make his mark as a labor leader, founder and director of credit unions, advocate for civil rights and community organizer. The foundation for Charles's leadership skills began with his early education at Public School #75 and Hutchinson Central High. His scholastic achievements, as well as his extracurricular activities, including varsity football, earned him a scholarship from the L'Overture Club. That award helped pay for attendance at Clark College in Atlanta, Ga., (now Clark-Atlanta University). During his matriculation at Clark, Charles carried a grade point average of 4.0. For personal reasons, Charles cut short his stay at Clark College. He returned to Buffalo and continued his higher education at the University of Buffalo. While at UB he began working at the Sylvania Electric plant. He advanced to the position of Troubleshooting Repairman and was the first African American to be trained for a skilled position at the plant. Charles put his new knowledge of electronics to use as a television repairman and eventually started a repair business with two associates. The job at Sylvania remained his main source of income, but that ended when the plant relocated outside of western New York. The setback turned out to be a blessing because it moved Charles to secure a job at the Chevrolet Metal Casting Plant, Division of General Motors.

With Charles in charge of the credit union's financial activities, the institution soon generated enough income through loans to members that four employees were hired. As the credit union expanded, so did Charles's popularity. When a special election was held to replace some of the local chapter's officers who had been removed by the national UAW, Charles was elected Secretary of Local 1173. In June 1965, he won the office of President. A majority of candidates on his slate also were elected. The new officers of the local changed a number of their predecessors' financial practices. Soon, Local 1173, which had been almost $40,000 in debt, became solvent. During Charles's tenure as president, the local went on strike against GM. Contract settlement talks between the local and GM had been stormy and long prior to Charles's administration. After about eights weeks, Local 1173 officers presented members a settlement package that was ratified in less than 30 minutes. Through his leadership, the local union grew more politically active and expanded its reach from Buffalo to Syracuse. In 1969, Charles was appointed to the national staff of the UAW and assigned to Region Nine in western New York. The job further expanded Charles's actions in politics, civil rights and community organizing. His education continued, too, as he attended special programs at Cornell and Rutgers universities.

His growing reputation as a leader brought Charles invitations to sit on the boards or be a charter member of many organizations, including the United Negro College Fund, P.U.S.H., Project Equality, Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts of America, Buffalo Negro Scholarship Foundation, BUILD of Buffalo, Black Development Foundation, NAACP, Seventy-Eight Restoration, Black Leadership Foundation, H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made Equal), United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Minority Coalition, Project Equality, P.U.S.H, One Hundred Black Men Club of Buffalo, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Buffalo Urban League. It was the Urban League, according to Charles, that pushed him to fully use his God-given talents. "It started in my youth," he recalled. "They taught us how to organize clubs, write by-laws and learn parliamentary rules of order." Urban League officials like Evans Young and "Pops" Jackson "motivated me and others to want to function in leadership capacities." As an adult, Charles not only was appointed to the Buffalo Urban League's board of directors, but also became board chairman for an unprecedented three terms. From his positions on other boards, Charles had a hand in improving life for many residents of Buffalo and Erie County. He pushed the city to hire more African Americans as police officers and firefighters; built a daycare center for working mothers; secured a supermarket franchise for a poorly served neighborhood; organized job-training programs; and helped to start or run three federal credit unions. Charles's achievements and contributions did not go unnoticed. Plaques offering thanks or acknowledging service cover three walls of his home office, and dozens more fill closet shelves. He retired from the UAW in 1991.

Charles said most credit for his work goes to his faith and his family. He was an active member of St. John Baptist Church for almost 70 years. He met his wife Sallye Trott while she was in high school. They married four years later and raised six children: Cheryl and Charles Jr. (both deceased), Charlene Price-Patterson (Kevin), Carol Harriston (Keith), Sherman (Natosha) and Carlton. "Sallye mothered our children, stood with me through all of our trials," Charles said. "She motivated me in my commitments and then went out and excelled in her own right. I was proud to be known as 'Sallye Price's husband.'" Charles was known for his big heart and his devotion to his family. He loved good food "talking about it, preparing it and eating it. Travel, especially to visit his grandchildren, gave him much pleasure. He kept his cell phone within arm's reach. His children always will remember his personalized renditions of "Happy Birthday." He also possessed a hearty laugh that could fill every corner of a room. Sallye died in 2003. Shortly after her passing, Charles moved from Buffalo to Charlotte, N.C. During his brief stay in Charlotte, he touched many lives. He died there Nov. 5, 2009. He also is survived by a brother, Robert "Butch" Price, and grandchildren and great grandchildren: Charise, Craig, Corey, Adrian, Deion, Miles, Cole, Niah, Christopher, Chanel, Chari and Cameron.