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SLEEPY EYE - The grandson of a Minneapolis union mediator who was murdered in 1937 for his labor-related work talked to Sleepy Eye High School history students about the value of education and one person's ability to change the world Tuesday.

"One person can make a difference. If you put your mind to it, you can change the world in a positive way," Education Minnesota, which is the state teachers union, President Tom Dooher told students.

"My grandfather (Patrick Corcoran) stood up for workers without a voice to help get them a greater life than their ancestors," Dooher said.

Corcoran and his family paid a high. price.

Seventy-two years ago, after attending a union meeting, Corcoran's skull was struck and then he shot in the back of the head as he walked from his garage to house.

The murder case was never solved, but Minneapolis Police thought Corcoran's assailants were thugs under the control of Chicago Mafia leader Bugs Moran, who opposed his efforts to organize workers at Walgreen Drug.

On several previous occasions, Corcoran was dragged from his home, warned to stop organizing workers and severely beaten before he was thrown from a vehicle unto his front lawn.

"My grandfather wouldn't let anyone intimidate him. He changed the way the United States deals with unions," Dooher said.

The Teamsters Union declared a holiday for Corcoran's funeral, which was held at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.

"I never met my grandfather, but I look at his photograph in my office every day. I know he's looking at me," Dooher said.

Dooher, who as state union president frequently speaks to large groups, said lacked self confidence until he joined the junior high choir.

"It gave me confidence to sing and later teach and tell people about my grandfather," Dooher said.

Dooher builds relationships with communities as part of his role as Education Minnesota president.

"The union didn't always get along with state governors, but Gov. Arne Carlson told me I could improve public education and that inspired me," Dooher said.

After graduation from Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in 1981, Dooher earned at bachelor's degree at the University of St. Thomas in 1985.

He became a middle school physical education teacher and high school soccer and track and field coach.

Dooher was active in the Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers. As president of the local union, he negotiated a contract with a merit pay proposal in 1997.

He earned a master's degree in education at Hamline University in 2000.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).