The officers and directors of the Eugene V. Debs Foundation are pleased to announce that on Saturday, November 21, 2026, the Debs Award will be presented to Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers.
Brother Shawn Fain began work as an electrician at his Kokomo Indiana hometown Chrysler casting plant in 1994. Following in the footsteps of three UAW member grandparents, he has been a proud UAW member for over 30 years.
As a local union activist, he served on various union committees and became Plant Shop Chairman. He opposed the 2007 contract due to its establishment of tiers and severe pay cuts. In 2012 he became a UAW International Representative.
In 2022 Shawn Fain ran for president, heading up the “UAW Members United” slate on a program of ending corruption, contract concessions and multi-tiered pay structures. In the first direct election in UAW history, the members spoke. Shawn Fain became president in March 2023.
Since becoming president, Shawn Fain has led the union in a more militant and bold direction as witnessed by the creative “Stand-up Strike” for new contracts against the “Big Three” auto companies. Simultaneously taking on the big three for the first time in UAW history, the strike results overcame years of concessions, extracted major pay increases, restored cost of living adjustments and eliminated the unjust and divisive tiered pay structures.
The Award Banquet will take place in Terre Haute, Indiana, the birthplace and lifelong home of Gene Debs and his home now is an outstanding museum of trade union and socialist memorabilia.
Banquet Forms and Information
Banquet information is available in PDF format, including a local area map which shows parking locations and where to go for scheduled events.
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- Mail-in Banquet Ticket Form
- Full-page Banquet Flyer
- Events Schedule(Coming Soon)
- Downtown Terre Haute Area Map
- Program Book Greeting Order Form
Banquet Weekend Schedule of Events
| Saturday, November 21 | ||
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| 10am – 2pm | Open House at the Eugene V. Debs Historic Home and Museum (451 N. 8th St., Terre Haute, IN 47807) The museum will not reopen after 2pm. Museum hours subject to change. | Open to the Public |
| 12 noon | Debs Graveside Ceremony. (Highland Lawn Cemetery, 4420 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47803) Join us in a ceremony to honor Eugene and Kate Debs. | Open to the Public |
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6 pm 7 pm |
Social hour preceding the annual banquet. (Terre Haute Convention Center, 800 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute) Banquet featuring 2025 Eugene V. Debs award recipient Shawn Fain. Banquet tickets required. |
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| Sunday, November 22 | ||
| 9 am | Fall Board Meeting. The officers and board of the foundation will meet at the Terre Haute Convention Center, 800 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, | |