Roy “Buck” Mercer, the first to hold office as vice president of the SIU Government Services Division, passed away May 4. He was 80.
“We have lost a great and dear friend as well as an advocate for members of the union,” said SIU President Michael Sacco. “Buck devoted much of his energies over the years toward the merger of the east and west coast CIVMARS contracts. Through his dedicated efforts, this unification became a reality in March of this year.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones,” Sacco concluded. “Buck was a great man, a charismatic leader and a dedicated brother. He truly will be missed by all of us.”
Born in Spokane, Wash., Mercer began his career with the Seafarers in 1942, making a lone trip as a messman aboard the General Gorgus, an Army Transport Service vessel. He then joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards in Seattle and worked his way up the galley ladder. He became a chief steward in 1948.
Mercer continued sailing until 1956 when he became a patrolman in Seattle. He held that position until 1961 when he transferred to San Francisco. Not long thereafter, Mercer was designated as an organizer for the old Military Sea Transport Union (MSTU) — the coalition that merged into the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District in 1985. By 1963, Mercer was secretary-treasurer for the MSTU. He held that position until the merger.
Mercer became vice president of the Seafarers International Union of North America during the 1970s, continuing to work from the division’s headquarters in San Francisco. Mercer retired from the SIU in 1999 following more than 50 years of service as a mariner and union official.
He lived in Las Vegas with his wife, Fermear “Dee” Mercer, who survives him. Six sons also survive Mercer: Brian Jenkins of Seattle, Allen Estes of Tacoma, Wash; Terrell Estes of Tracy, Calif.; Kim Estes of Cypress, Calif.; Tony Estes of San Antonio and Byron Brown of Dallas.
Retired SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney recalled Mercer’s contributions to the MC&S. “Buck was very active with the founding of the Marine Cooks & Stewards as well as its merger into the SIU,” McCartney said. “He was a very conscientious, honest, sincere, dedicated guy.”
Ed Turner, president of the MS&C when it merged with the SIU, worked with Mercer for many years. “I knew him for something like 30 or 40 years,” Turner said. “We sailed together many times…Buck sailed out of Seattle.
“He was one of the best people I have ever known…a great worker and a super union official,” Turner continued. “I think perhaps the greatest thing you can say about a seafarer is that they were good shipmates. Buck was all of that and more. I’ll miss him greatly.”
Chet Wheeler, SIU Government Services Division representative, said Mercer “helped a lot of people, brought a lot of people along and gave them opportunities. I knew him for 30 years and I can say with certainty that from the beginning he was in a leadership role on his own merits.”
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