PRESS RELEASE

December 21, 2005

Los Angeles , CA — With great sadness and regret, Century Housing announces the passing Friday of founding Century Board Member William Robertson. Mr. Robertson, 89, died of pneumonia at Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles.

He enjoyed a long career as a respected labor leader, beginning with his membership in the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Workers Union in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, and taking him to a leadership role in the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

He joined the staff of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO in 1967, and served as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer before becoming Executive Secretary-Treasurer in 1975. He was elected Vice President of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO in 1976.

He was also a fixture in two major Los Angeles civic events in the 1980s; Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley named a seven-member Blue Ribbon committee to help bring the Olympic Games to Los Angeles in 1984, and chose Mr. Robertson to be part of their successful effort. And, as President of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, he was also involved in the Oakland Raiders’ successful antitrust suit against the NFL, bringing the Raiders football team to Los Angeles in 1982. 

After his retirement in 1993, Mr. Robertson remained active in community affairs, serving on the Century Housing Board of Directors from 1995 to November 2005, when he received Emeritus status.

“Bill was a community leader, a valued colleague, a caring friend, a loving husband and father, and all that knew him will miss him dearly. We are better people for having known him,” said G. Allan Kingston, President/CEO of Century Housing.