[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1135-E1136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JACK PARTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commend Jack 
Parton, of Hebron, Indiana, for his exemplary service to Indiana's 
First Congressional District. Since 1982, when Jack was serving as the 
District 31 Director of the United Steelworkers of America, he has 
organized an annual golf outing to raise money for the National Kidney 
Foundation. This year, in honor of his great efforts and activities on 
behalf of the Kidney Foundation, Jack was honored by the foundation 
during the Cadillac Invitational Golf Tournament, on June 15, 1998 at 
the Broadmoor Country Club in Merrillville, Indiana.
  The 16th annual `Kidney Days Golf Outing' fundraiser for the National 
Kidney Foundation will be held on August 21, 1998. The event will take 
place at five golf courses in Northwest Indiana and is expected to 
include almost one thousand participants. Profits will be given to the 
Kidney Foundation to help the ailing and needy, with expected proceeds 
to be in excess of $4,000. In the previous 15 years of this event, over 
$100,000 has been raised and donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
  A strong leader of the United Steelworkers of America, Jack first 
joined in the union in 1959 as a member of Local 1014 at U.S. Steel's 
Gary Works, where he served two terms as its President. Jack was 
elected Director of District 31 in 1981, and he was subsequently re-
elected in 1985, 1989, and 1993. In 1995, District 31 was re-organized 
into District 7, which now encompasses all of Illinois and Indiana, and 
Jack served as its first director. In March of 1998, Jack was installed 
once more as the District 7 Director. Dedicated to the union, Jack has 
assumed numerous important responsibilities, including chairing 
contract negotiations with Inland Steel, Ryerson, Acme Steel, 
Northwestern Steel & Wire, and LTV Steel, where he serves as Secretary 
of negotiations. In addition, Jack established the District 7 Labor/
Management Safety and Health Conference, which was the first district-
level conference of its type in the USWA. In 1996, Jack served as the 
Secretary of the 1996 Convention Officers' Report Committee.
  Jack, while deeply committed to his work, is also dedicated to his 
family. He often travels back to Virginia to visit his mother and spend 
time with his other relatives. His future plans include working to 
facilitate the unification merger of the United Autoworkers and the 
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers with the 
United Steelworkers of America. Together with other union leaders, Jack 
will ensure that the membership of these three unions unites to form 
one comprehensive, united, and strong voice for working men and women. 
This newly invigorated union will be dedicated to serving, protecting, 
and aiding its membership.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to ask you and my distinguished 
colleagues to join me in paying tribute to one of the region's true 
humanitarian leaders, Jack Parton. Jack's service to his community, co-
workers, and union is worthy of the highest praise and emulation. 
Northwest Indiana is lucky to have such

[[Page E1136]]

a incredibly altruistic, dedicated, and upright individual.

                          ____________________