[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 113 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3199-S3200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING ERIC FEAVER

 Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I would like to share a few words 
today to honor an outstanding leader and friend of mine who recently 
passed away. Eric Feaver was a force in Montana and a lifelong advocate 
for educators across our State. He was the former president of 
Montana's teacher's union who devoted more than 40 years to improving 
the State's public school system. His commitment to Montana's working

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families was tangible and had a profound impact on public policy. It is 
safe to say the Treasure State wouldn't be what it is today without 
him.
  As a fierce advocate for the labor movement, Eric was an inspiration 
to fellow labor leaders, politicians, teachers, students, and community 
members alike. It takes a lot these days to reach across party lines, 
but Eric consistently worked with those who held different views. Just 
ask some of the folks who worked with Eric. They will tell you, even 
though they didn't always agree with him, they respected him.
  Raised in Oklahoma and sent to Vietnam as a conscientious objector 
and U.S. Army combat medic at the age of 23, Eric first planted roots 
in Montana when he landed a teaching job at Helena Junior High School 
in 1974. It didn't take long for Eric to find his way into the State's 
labor movement, where he would spend nearly 50 years helping shape 
education and union policy.
  As a result of Eric's charisma and expertise, he was elected 
president of the Montana Education Association in 1984, and in 2000, he 
led MEA to a monumental merger with the Montana Federation of Teachers. 
As president of MEA-MFT, Eric spearheaded another major merger, which 
resulted in the creation of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, 
an organization that today represents more than 25,000 public sector 
employees. Over the years, Eric continued to bring together folks 
across Montana. And he managed to do a lot of good for the State's 
workforce and public schools in the process. But even more than his 
accomplishments, I think Eric will be remembered for his passion--his 
genuine commitment to making the Treasure State a better, fairer place 
to live and work.
  I am lucky to have called Eric a friend. His legacy and his 
friendship have left a lasting imprint on me and so many others. I 
extend my deepest condolences to Eric's wife, Ellen; their two 
daughters, Amity and Ashley; two sons-in-law, Rich and TJ; 
grandchildren, Tristin, Cameron, Braden, Halo, Ethan, and Oliver; and 
his brothers, Douglas and Edward.
  While Eric is no longer with us, he will go down in Montana history 
as one of the State's greatest labor leaders and champions of public 
education.
  He will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________