[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WARREN HEYER: PROFESSOR, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AND PUBLIC ADVOCATE

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Warren Heyer, one of 
my district's most persistent and effective community advocates.
  As a young man, Heyer served in World War II, where he saw combat in 
General George S. Patton's 3rd Army and took part in the liberation of 
a Nazi concentration camp. After witnessing the horror of war and 
genocide, he became an ardent anti-war activist. And in the mid-1960s, 
his activism focused on his community.
  After Heyer graduated from San Diego State College in 1950, he taught 
in a local elementary school--where he met his first wife, Roberta 
Calvert, who passed away in 1996. He continued his education, receiving 
a Master's degree in librarianship, and worked as a librarian at both 
San Diego High School and San Diego City College. In 1964, he was a 
founding faculty member of Mesa College, where he was instrumental in 
developing numerous important school policies. He was the elected 
chairman of the Library Department, a position he held until 1979, when 
he retired. Retirement did not stop his service to the college: he 
continued to serve as an adjunct librarian, training and assisting new 
employees and students.
  He was also a central figure in the efforts to re-zone his community 
of Encanto. If it were not for Warren Heyer, the quiet and inviting 
character of Encanto would have been lost. He served as vice-chairman 
of the Southeast San Diego Development Committee and went door-to-door 
to gain support for his efforts, without which, I am convinced, the 
planning measure would not have passed.
  Heyer suffered a stroke in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, where he was 
building a church on behalf of a humanitarian organization. He died as 
he lived: putting others before himself and working for the betterment 
of society.
  My deepest condolences go to Heyer's family; his wife Patricia and 
his three children: Kathryn, Robin, and Andrew.
  William Heyer was a model constituent and his legacy will continue to 
benefit my district for years and years to come.

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