[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E102-E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JOHN F. HENNING, UNIONIST OF THE YEAR

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues 
the illustrious public career of my friend John F. Henning, the 
executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation of the 
AFL-CIO. This coming February, Jack will be honored by the men 

[[Page E103]]
and women of organized labor in Alameda County as this year's 
``Unionist of the Year,'' an honor granted each year by the Alameda 
County Central Labor Council.
  Jack Henning has dedicated his life to improving the lot of working 
men and women throughout the United States. As a young union member, he 
fought to integrate his local union. His leadership and skills were 
recognized early, and he was put to work as a union representative for 
organized labor.
  Twenty-one years after graduating from St. Mary's College, he became 
the director of the California State Department of Industrial 
Relations--1959-62. His public service career would include 
contributions as United States Under Secretary of Labor, 1962-67 and 
United States Ambassador to New Zealand, 1967-69. These extraordinary 
achievements for one from a working class background allowed the entire 
Nation and, indeed, the world to witness the skill, vision, and 
leadership for which Jack has become legendary. They are a testament to 
the fact that all of our citizens can achieve great goals when the 
resources and support are available to them.
  Jack has made many other public contributions as well--serving on the 
board of regents of both the University of California and Lone Mountain 
College (San Francisco) and the board of trustees of St. Mary's 
College. He has served on several San Francisco City and County 
commissions and is the past president of both the San Francisco 
Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Men and the St. Mary's College Alumni 
Association.
  Since 1970, Jack has been the executive secretary-treasury of the 
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, and one of the Nation's most 
respected labor leaders. Under his leadership the labor federation has 
assumed its rightful place in the coalition of forces that have fought 
for civil rights for all Americans and an end to apartheid in South 
Africa. Labor under his leadership helped to secure representation 
rights for the Nation's farm workers. And, in league with ethical 
visionaries such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jack Henning helped to 
bring the California labor movement into the effort to end our terrible 
involvement in the war in Indochina.
  In this time when we despair so much of a loss of public compassion, 
diminution of public spiritedness, and the demise of the social 
contribution, Jack Henning's life continues to shine as a beacon of 
moral commitment. He is truly one of the Nation's heroes--a man who has 
without fail pursued equality, justice, and a fair share for working 
men and women throughout his distinguished career.
  I am very proud to share this brief account of the significant career 
of a very public servant with my colleagues and I commend it as an 
example for us all.

                          ____________________