[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ROBERT L. HARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2007

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
and work of Robert L. Harris, a native of Oakland, California. Today 
Bob celebrates his retirement from Pacific Gas and Electric Company 
(PG&E), where he currently serves as the Vice President of 
Environmental, Health, Technical and Land Services. His outstanding 
contributions to his company are second only to what he has given back 
to our community. I am proud to have this opportunity to salute him for 
his many years of service.
  Bob graduated from Merrit College in 1963 and the University of 
California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1973. There he had a 
memorable career, where he was an associate editor for the California 
Law Review. He was admitted to the California State Bar on December 13, 
1972, and was a state bar examination grader from 1973-1979. He made 
continuing education a priority throughout his career, completing the 
Harvard Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program, as 
well as the Management Development Program at Duke University's School 
of Business.
  Almost immediately after his graduation from law school, Bob was 
invited to join the legal staff of PG&E. In 1985, he became the first 
and only lawyer in PG&E's history to argue and win a case for the 
company in the United States Supreme Court. The issue he won pertained 
to free speech.
  In 1989, Bob was selected to become the manager of one of PG&E's 
major operating divisions in its East Bay region in Oakland, 
California. He was the first lawyer ever appointed to such a position 
within PG&E. In that position, he proved his exceptional leadership 
skills in the face of disaster on more than one occasion. In 1989, the 
Loma Prieta Earthquake devastated the Bay Area and damaged PG&E's 
facilities. Despite the severity of the situation, Bob was able to keep 
his division afloat and organized. Two years later, the Oakland Hills 
Firestorm, the largest urban firestorm in United States history, struck 
and devastated our region. During this crisis, Bob was once again able 
to lead a demonstration of commitment to Bay Area residents, and PG&E 
restored service to the remaining homes in record time. As a result, 
PG&E won accolades from throughout the East Bay for maintaining service 
to their customers, no matter how grave the situation.
  In addition to his success with PG&E, Bob has distinguished himself 
in numerous endeavors within the community. He is an active longtime 
member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and has served as the Sire 
Archon (president) of Alpha Gamma Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Bob 
is a former president of the Charles Houston Bar Association of the San 
Francisco Bay Area, and in 1970-1980, he served as president of the 
National Bar Association. He is one of the founders of the California 
Association of Black Lawyers, and served as a member of the Board of 
Commissioners at the Port of Oakland from 1996-2000.
  Bob is also active in energy matters that impact African Americans. 
He is the second vice chairman and former general counsel of the 
American Association of Blacks in Energy. Bob is a board member of the 
U.S. EPA's National Advisory Council on Environmental Justice. the 
National Energy Policy Commission, the California EPA Advisory 
Committee on Environmental Justice, and the California League of 
Conservation Voters.
  Bob is well known for his unparalleled dedication to community 
service and has received numerous accolades for his work. Among them is 
the NAACP's highest legal honor, the ``William Robert Ming Award,'' as 
well as the National Bar Associations highest honor, the ``C. Francis 
Stradford Award.'' In July 2005, he also received the Kappa Alpha Psi's 
highest honor, the ``Laurel Wreath.'' Currently Bob chairs the United 
Negro College Fund's Bay Area Advisory Board, and has received its 
highest honor, the ``Fredrick D. Patterson Award.'' On five different 
occasions, he was selected by Ebony Magazine as one of the ``100 Most 
Influential Blacks in America.''
  Today, the friends, family and colleagues of Robert L. Harris have 
come together to celebrate his career and immeasurable contributions to 
our community. On this very special day, I join all of them in thanking 
Bob for his invaluable service, and for the profoundly positive impact 
his work has had on. countless lives here in California's 9th U.S. 
Congressional District, across our country and throughout the world.