[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO PAUL H. SELDENRIGHT ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE U.P. LABOR 
                              HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. STUPAK Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Paul 
H. Seldenright, who has devoted 41 years of his life to the labor 
movement, working to ensure a good quality of life for working men and 
women.
  Born and raised In Detroit, Paul began his union career in 1960 as a 
member of United Steelworkers of America, Local 2659, in Trenton, 
Michigan. His strong interest in politics led to his becoming chairman 
of his local's Political Action Committee from 1962 to 1968. In 1968 
Paul became assistant director for Vice President Hubert Humphrey's 
Democratic presidential campaign in Michigan, Michigan Citizens for 
Humphrey.
  A number of jobs in state government followed, including 
Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Assistant 
Secretary of State, and Assistant Director of the Senate Democratic 
Staff. In 1970, Paul served as Associate manager for the successful G. 
Mennen ``Soapy'' Williams for Michigan Supreme Court Campaign.
  In 1973 Paul began working for the Michigan AFL-CIO as coordinator 
for COPE, the AFL-CIO's political arm. He became COPE director in 1982 
and, except for a brief stint as the federation's legislative director 
from 1984 through 1986, he served in that role until his retirement at 
the end of 2000. As COPE director, Paul was responsible for organizing 
and implementing the State AFL-CIO's year-round political program in 
conjunction with the federation's affiliated unions.
  Another important responsibility was serving as liaison between the 
state AFL-CIO and the Upper Peninsula central labor councils. When Paul 
first took over this role, there were only four central labor councils 
in the U.P. He was instrumental in helping form two new councils, the 
Eastern U.P. Labor Council and the Dickinson-Iron Labor Council.
  Paul also served key roles in other U.P. initiatives and activities. 
Along with former Michigan State AFL-CIO President William C. Marshall, 
he served on the original planning committee for the Italian Hall 
project in Calumet. The project, now complete, is considered one of the 
Northwest U.P. Labor council's most important achievements. Mr. 
Speaker, the Italian Hall memorial commemorates the deaths of more than 
70 people--striking miners, their wives and children--who were killed 
when fire struck their gathering on Christmas Eve in 1913.
  Paul also was a member of the Northern Michigan University Labor 
Studies Advisory and Planning Committee since its inception in the late 
1970s. Since the early 1980s he has coordinated the annual U.P. Labor 
Conference, considered the U.P.'s most important labor event other than 
Labor Day.
  Although officially retired, Paul maintains an active interest in the 
labor movement and politics. He and his wife Lesley live in the Lansing 
suburb of DeWitt.
  Paul will be honored Saturday, April 7, 2001, with induction into the 
U.P. Labor Hall of Fame at a banquet in Northern Michigan University in 
Marquette, Michigan. With his years of work on behalf of the labor 
movement in Michigan, Paul Seldenright has more than earned this 
recognition.

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