Refe Perry, Jr., first unionized African American caterer, passes

Rafe Perry, Jr., a long-time Milwaukee resident, who in 1983 became the first unionized African American caterer and was instrumental in integrating the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, died on Friday September 16, 2022. He was 62 years old.

Perry was a graduate of MATC’s Culinary Arts School. In the 1980’s he and brother Vincent A. Dawson, got the contract for the food service operations for the Milwaukee Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club located at 2401 W. Wisconsin Avenue. The company, Catering Unlimited, became the first African American-owned unionized catering business in Wisconsin in 1983. Catering Unlimited provided all food within the Eagles Club. Its patrons included judges, police, governors, and politicians. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles, which was built in 1926, was a private, whites only, social organization.

Rafe Perry, Jr., also became the second African American, member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Perry also worked to advance racial equality and workplace diversity in other ways. He employed many diverse people when he operated the food courts at Germanfest, Festa Italiana, Irish Fest, Afrofest, and Summerfest annually.

He leaves behind five children: Jessikah, Latanya, Richard, Rafe, III, and Johnny. A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the YCS Center, 2510 West North Avenue.