[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF THE LATE BOB McMENEMY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 1999

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Robert 
J. McMenemy, who passed away last week at the age of 59 in Plantation, 
FL. I am saddened by this tragic loss: South Florida has lost a truly 
great community leader.
  For the past 35 years, Bob McMenemy was a strong presence at labor 
meetings, political club events, and civic activities throughout 
Broward County, FL. He was a fixture at Democratic campaign rallies, 
candidate fundraisers, and political dinners, known among politicians 
and elected officials as someone who could quickly motivate others to 
participate in the political process. Demonstrating his large influence 
on South Florida politics, Bob was the labor committee chairman and a 
vice chairman of the county Democratic Party, as well as former vice 
president and president of the Plantation Democratic Club.
  Though very active in politics, Bob was perhaps best known for his 
leadership in South Florida's union. He was a passionate advocate for 
better pay for workers on public projects, and significantly 
strengthened the labor movement in Broward County. He was a leader of 
the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 675, representing 
the workers who drove construction cranes and other heavy equipment. 
Bob also served as the political action chairman and legislative 
director before becoming the union's president. In honor of his 
extraordinary dedication and work, the Broward AFL-CIO presented Bob 
with the ``Labor Leader of the Year'' award. This award was truly 
deserved, representing all that Bob stood for.
  It is important to note that Bob McMenemy did not simply focus all of 
his attention on political and labor issues. Throughout the course of 
his life, Bob was especially devoted to social issues as well. He was 
specifically known for his involvement in assisting people who suffered 
from drug and alcohol addictions. Bob served as the director of the 
Broward AFL-CIO's member assistance program, chairman of the Broward 
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board, and a board member of the House 
of Hope and Stepping Stones treatment programs. He strongly believed 
that people with drug and alcohol problems deserved a chance to 
recover, and he worked tirelessly to assist them in this important 
fight.
  On a more personal level, Bob McMenemy, with his deep Irish roots, 
invested his time in the Emerald Society, a group that promotes Irish 
heritage. He was, in fact, honored by the society at one of the annual 
St. Patrick's Day breakfasts in Fort Lauderdale. Most importantly, 
however, Bob McMenemy was a devoted husband, father, and son, who is 
survived by his wife, his two daughters, and his mother. No matter what 
calling one obeys in life, I can think of nothing more important than 
one's relationship with their family.
  Mr. Speaker, while Bob McMenemy's passing is a tremendous loss for 
the South Florida community, I can say without hesitation that his 
memory lives on through the work of the many organizations to which he 
dedicated his life. We will dearly miss Bob, but for the thousands of 
lives he touched, we thank and praise him for his hard work, his 
leadership, and his compassion for others.

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