[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 104 (Friday, June 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE E. NORCROSS, SR.

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a man who never failed to rise to the challenge of serving his fellow 
human beings; George E. Norcross, Sr.
  George started as a union organizer in the 1940's. He got involved in 
the labor movement because he understood that working people needed to 
come together to protect their common interests and promote their 
common goals. He translated that theory into practice when he founded 
and served as president of RCA Local 106 in Morrestown, NJ. His 
responsibilities to the local kept him busy, but they did not prevent 
him from becoming involved in other activities. His commitment to the 
labor movement ultimately resulted in his serving as president of the 
AFL-CIO Central Labor Council of South Jersey. In that capacity, he 
made sure that the union movement contributed to the community as a 
whole as well as its members.
  George took steps to get the 80,000 members of the central labor 
council's 73 locals involved in community events. He became active in 
the United Way and served as chairman of the campaign in 1982 as well 
as holding other post of responsibility in that organization.
  While George recognized the need for larger organizations like the 
United Way, he never lost sight of the obligation that labor unions 
themselves had to assist those in needs. He served as president of the 
union organization for social service which provided services to the 
community ranging from food banks to job training and clothing drives.
  George is the kind of man who believed that Americans ought to care 
about their neighbors and accept a responsibility to help them. His 
life has been devoted to basic values: seeing all men and women as 
brothers and sisters, realizing that we share common dreams and face a 
common destiny, accepting the obligation and opportunity to give those 
in need a helping hand.
  Mr. President, because of George, literally tens of thousands of 
lives have been improved and enriched. I join with those tens of 
thousands in wishing him a rewarding retirement and expressing our 
appreciation for all he has done, and all that he will continue to 
do.

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