[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 154 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LOUIE GREENGARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend the work of 
a tireless brother from the House of Labor in my district, Louie 
Greengard. Mr. Greengard recently retired as the president of the Saint 
Paul Trades and Labor Assembly, the AFL-CIO central body my district.
  In 1969, Louie Greengard began his trades career as a carpenter. 
Elected Recording Secretary of the Carpenters and Joiners Local 87 in 
1977, Greengard advanced to the position of Business Agent in 1982. In 
1988, his carpenter sisters and brothers elected him as Executive 
Secretary of the Carpenters District Council. One year later, in 1989, 
Louie Greengard was elected President of the Saint Paul Trades and 
Labor Assembly. He served in this capacity until his recent retirement 
late this year.
  I've been pleased to work with Louie Greengard on a wide variety of 
issues, all advancing the working people's interests and concerns. I 
know Greengard as a hard-working, strong, fair, effective servant of 
labor in all walks of life and work; advocating for working families' 
wages, benefits, and an innovative service network; leading the Trades 
and Labor Assembly through good times and bad. Highlights include 
organizing innumerable Saint Paul Winter Carnival Parade units for the 
Assembly; coordinating labor's participation in the United Way 
campaigns; drawing Minnesota's oldest labor newspaper, The Union 
Advocate under the trades and Labor Assembly's aegis; successfully 
lobbying for Saint Paul's half-cent sales tax, creating a fund for 
community reinvestment and redevelopment; guiding the Assembly's 
participation in challenging election cycles; advocating strongly and 
forcefully for working families; and always working to bring people 
together for the common good.
  With Mr. Greengard's retirement on November 11, 1998, he has, no 
doubt, plans to use his richly-deserved free time to restore a few more 
classic cars; spend more time with his wonderful family, his spouse 
Jan, his 5 children and 12 grandchildren; spend more time with his 
faithful basset hound, Jake; and bask in the friendship and warm 
sunshine of southern winters chasing fish and golf balls.
  Louie Greengard is a great example of those who ably, confidently and 
successfully lead the house of labor. We are all richer for his 
friendship, leadership and tireless advocacy of working women and men. 
I'm honored to represent him and earn the support of working men and 
women in our state. It is with heartfelt thanks and gratitude that I 
wish him the best of health and a well deserved retirement.

                          ____________________