[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO BENNYE CAROL FRAZIER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to honor a lovely woman from 
San Antonio, who passed away recently. I rise to honor Bennye Carol 
Frazier, a person dedicated to serving others and causes bigger than 
anyone person. Sadly, she left us recently, but she never stopped 
fighting. In fact, despite her kind and gracious manner, she fought 
hard her entire life for the causes she believed in.
  Bennye believed in the power of education to transform lives. She 
taught in San Antonio schools for many years, and she chose to teach 
high school students who had the highest risk of dropping out. These 
are the students most in need of encouragement and reinforcement that 
obtaining an education is something everyone can do and that the goal 
is within their grasp. There are, I'm sure, many people in San Antonio 
who would have quit had it not been for Bennye's encouragement. She 
fought to keep students in school and on track for graduation.
  Bennye also fought to improve schools and treatment of teachers. She 
served as President of the San Antonio Teachers Council for two terms 
as well as for the local affiliates of the National Education 
Association and the Texas State Teachers Association, and the Texas 
Industrial Vocational Association.
  As was her nature, Bennye was also a leader in the community. She 
served as President for both the San Antonio Calligraphers Guild and 
the Harp and Shamrock Society and as a member of the S.A. Conservation 
Society and paper chair of Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA.)
  Bennye worked at the local level of politics, an area often 
overlooked despite its importance. As Speaker Tip O'Neill used to say 
``All politics is local,'' and Bennye knew this. It's at this level 
that small gestures and kindnesses matter more than policy differences. 
Bennye was unfailingly kind and helpful in many ways, and many in the 
Democratic Party recall her tireless assistance.
  Bennye would support local candidates in whatever fashion she could. 
She served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Bexar County Democratic 
Party. She was named interim Chair of the Bexar County Democrats, often 
a thankless task, but she dispatched those duties with the same 
kindness, enthusiasm and efficiency she performed all other tasks. Even 
while suffering the illness that would lead to her death, Bennye 
continued to work for the Democratic Party.
  Democrats in San Antonio could count on Bennye to keep us focused on 
the goal of helping people. She was dedicated to the mission of our 
party at its finest, the mission of Democrats like President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt, Speaker Sam Rayburn or President Lyndon Baines 
Johnson.
  Of course, Bennye was a wife, mother and grandmother. She and her 
husband, Tom, were married for 50 years. I am amazed how Bennye found 
time for her career, her family and her activities.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to her husband, her family, and those 
whose lives she touched. She will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________