[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 108 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO HENRY L. ``HANK'' LACAYO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend, Henry L. ``Hank'' Lacayo, an outstanding individual who has 
dedicated his life to public service and social activism. On august 5, 
2001, the Destino 2000 Vision Committee and the Ventura County 
Community Foundation will celebrate Hank's 70th birthday and will honor 
him for his many years of service on behalf of the people of Ventura 
county, the State of California, and the Nation.
  For more than 45 years, Hank has distinguished himself as a union 
representative for the United Auto Workers and as a recognized national 
labor leader throughout the United States. After serving in the Air 
force, he went to work at North American Aviation's Los Angeles 
Division.
  I had the privilege of meeting Hank during the early 1960s when he 
was elected President of UAW Local 887 which represented more than 
30,000 workers at North American Aviation. Although at that time we 
were on opposite sides of two political factions, in retrospect the 
differences that loomed large then now seem pointless. Throughout the 
years that followed, we worked well together on many important labor 
issues.
  Hank was one of the early supporters of Cesar Chavez and helped 
convince the UAW to give the farm workers much needed financial 
assistance. In 1974, the UAW recognized Hank's excellent work and named 
him Administrative Assistant to then-UAW President Leonard Woodcock. He 
was later appointed National Director of the UAW's political and 
legislative department. Hank would later go on to serve within numerous 
presidential administrations, beginning with President Kennedy, as a 
labor relations advisor.
  In addition to his work with labor unions, Hank has been active in 
the Latino community. He is a founder and National President Emeritus 
of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Furthermore, Hank 
helped found the Mid-West-North-East Voter Education Project (today the 
US Hispanic Leadership Institute) and served as its first President and 
Chairman of the Board. He was also the first Latino to serve on the 
prestigious US Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
  Hank has been recognized on numerous occasions and has been the 
recipient of a number of prestigious awards. These include the Walter 
P. Reuther UAW Distinguished Award, the National Hero Award (US 
Hispanic Leadership Institute) and the Patriotic Service Award (US 
Department of Commerce). These accolades and the tribute from the 
Destino 2000 Vision Committee and Ventura County Community Foundation 
all recognize Hank's devotion and commitment to the plight of workers.
  In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Hank and his 
wife Leah have raised four wonderful children. It is my distinct 
pleasure to ask my colleagues to join with me in wishing Henry L. 
``Hank'' Lacayo a happy 70th birthday and in saluting him for his years 
of public service.

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