[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOAZ SIEGEL

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am delighted to rise today to 
acknowledge a lawyer, from my home State of Michigan, of great 
intellectual capacity and a passion for justice, Boaz Siegel, who 
dedicated his life to fighting for working men and women. On October 
20th of this year, hundreds of people will gather for the dedication of 
the new headquarters for the Pipefitters, Refrigeration & Air 
Conditioning Service Local 636. This dedication will also serve as a 
tribute to Mr. Siegel, and will culminate in his being made an honorary 
member of Local 636.
  Boaz Siegel has dedicated his academic and professional life to 
studying, teaching and practicing the laws that affect the well-being 
of all workers. Believing that the law could be a noble profession 
dedicated to the public good, he enrolled in the Wayne State University 
Law School. While in law school he balanced the responsibilities of 
family, work and pursuing numerous social causes. He excelled in his 
law studies at Wayne State University, and received his Juris Doctorate 
in 1941.
  Upon graduating law school, Boaz's plans to enter private practice 
were delayed as he was asked to work in the Wayne State Law Library. 
This quickly led to a teaching position at the law school where he 
taught from 1941 through 1972. During this time, he briefly left to 
join Samuel Schwartz and Rolland O'Hare in a private practice that my 
brother, Sander Levin, joined shortly after its inception. After a year 
in practice, Boaz returned to teaching and was made assistant to the 
provost and a full professor at Wayne State University Law School.
  Although passionate about teaching, Boaz Siegel's first love remained 
labor law. While teaching at Wayne State in the 1950s, he served as 
legal counsel to the trustees of fringe benefit, pension and health 
funds. One such fund, the Detroit and Vicinity Construction Workers 
Health and Welfare Fund, possessed 45,000 participants. In 1962, he was 
appointed by the United States Secretary of Labor to a position on the 
first U.S. Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Plans.
  Two years later, his considerable talents as an arbitrator were 
acknowledged when he became a member of the National Academy of 
Arbitrators. However, it was his fund work that consumed most of his 
time, and led him to leave teaching and enter law practice full-time in 
1972. His work with many unions, including Local 636, has ensured a 
better future for thousands of workers and their families.
  Boaz Siegel can take pride in his long and honorable service to the 
working people of Michigan. I am honored to call this man a mentor, 
colleague and friend. I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in 
saluting Boaz Siegel for his commitment to working men and women, the 
labor movement and teaching and practicing law.

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