[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1856-E1857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB MERKLE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in rising today to ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Bob Merkle, who is retiring later 
this year after a long and distinguished career as an official with the 
United Auto Workers Region 1 and as a dedicated community activist.
  Walter Ruether, the great UAW leader, once said, ``the most important 
thing in the world is to fight for the other guy.''

[[Page E1857]]

  Mr. Speaker, that quote reminds me a lot of Bob Merkle, because for 
over 30 years, Bob Merkle has been organizing and educating and 
tirelessly fighting for the rights of working men and women in Michigan 
and our Nation. Through all of those years Bob has been guided by a 
fiery devotion to the interests of working families and a love of our 
community.
  Bob started his career as an apprentice tool and diemaker at 
Enterprise Tool and Gear in 1956. Starting in 1960, Bob served as a 
plant chairperson and chief steward at Bendix Automation and 
Measurement. He was later elected vice president and then president of 
UAW Local 155. In 1979, Bob was appointed to the staff of UAW Region 1, 
where he served as CAP coordinator under Steve Yokich.
  In addition to Bob's years of work with the UAW, he has also been 
tremendously active in local civic organizations. Bob has served his 
community on the board of Michigan Works, the Macomb Community Growth 
Alliance, and the Hamtramck Advisory Committee.
  Bob and his wife Pat are both committed Democratic Party activists. 
Bob has served as a precinct delegate in Ira Township, on the 
Democratic State Central Committee and as a delegate to four Democratic 
Conventions. Both Bob and Pat have also devoted so much of their time 
to the 10th District Democratic Committee. And this year, Pat served as 
a delegate to the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
  I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Bob Merkle for 
nearly 20 years. On issues like NAFTA, and employee rights and job 
safety, nobody has worked longer, fought harder or been more committed. 
I am proud to call Bob and Pat close friends.
  After a distinguished career working with the UAW for the rights of 
middle-income families, Bob will now move on to other pursuits. But all 
of us who know Bob know that whatever he chooses to do, he will 
continue to be a leader and continue to be guided by the principal that 
all of us have a responsibility to look out for our neighbor, and to 
improve our community.
  I am pleased to call attention to Bob's years of dedicated service 
and to congratulate him on his retirement. I know that he and Pat have 
many years of happiness ahead of them. I wish them both the best and 
look forward to continuing our friendship and our association.

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