[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DONALD ROSS BROOKS--SAN DIEGO COUNTY BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES 
             COUNCIL 1998 RETIRED LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 1998

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize 
Donald Ross Brooks as he is honored by the San Diego County Building 
and Construction Trades Council at the September 19, 1998 John S. Lyons 
Memorial Banquet for his contributions on behalf of working men and 
women and his community.
  Donald Ross Brooks is a native of Nebraska and came to San Diego from 
Kansas. At nineteen years of age, he joined the Navy hoping to see the 
world and was stationed at San Diego's North Island Naval Base. 
Following his three and one half years in the Navy, Donald worked as a 
police officer for the City of Coronado.
  In 1958, he joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 
36 and worked as a truck driver for twenty years. In 1981, then-
Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer Arkie Spoon appointed Brooks to the 
position of Business Representative for his local. During his ten year 
tenure in this position, he worked diligently to represent the 
interests of the construction drivers and warehousemen. He offered 
encouragement and advice to the Business Representatives of the various 
Building Trades Unions and served as mentor to his fellow Union 
brothers and sisters.
  While raising his family of four boys, Donald also volunteered his 
time, energy and skills to the Cowles Mountain Little League. He shared 
his patience, knowledge and team-spirit with Little League players as 
he helped to build Little League Fields, served as league president, 
acted as player's agent and coached teams.
  Donald exemplifies the high values, standards, and principles of the 
work of the late John S. Lyons in community service. I join in adding 
my sincere thanks to him for his many contributions that have earned 
him the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council's 
1998 Retired Labor Leader of the Year Award.

                          ____________________