Douglas Fraser, who led the United Auto Workers as president from 1977 to 1983, died in a Southfield, Mich., hospital Saturday, the union said today. He was 91.

His wife Winnie Fraser told the Associated Press that Fraser had emphysema and went into Providence Hospital with breathing problems.

"It’s a huge loss," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger in a prepared statement. "Doug was a friend, a mentor and a counselor to so many within the UAW and the larger labor movement. His integrity and his enduring commitment to protecting the rights of workers will continue to inspire us."

"He never forgot that we were working for our active and retired members," said Gettelfinger. "We will continue to draw encouragement from his life and his legacy."

Born the in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1916, Fraser began his career at the Chrysler DeSoto plant in Detroit, and in 1944 became president of Local 227. Six years later, UAW leader Walter Reuther named him his administrative assistant, the union said.

From there, he moved into several leadership positions, including director of the union’s Chrysler department and union vice president.

As UAW president, Fraser helped engineer the federal loan guarantees and the subsequent financial turnaround of Chrysler Corp. He later served on the company’s board of directors.

Fraser was most recently a professor of labor studies at Wayne State University in Detroit. He was inducted in the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2000.