[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING BURGESS (B.J.) ETZEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2007

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a life-
long Texan, a personal friend, and a great leader in our community. 
Burgess Etzel, or B.J. as most of us know him, was born in Roundtop, 
Texas. After finishing high school there, he went on to attend Blinn 
College, and then to my alma mater, the University of Houston.
  After graduation, B.J. began his work in the communications industry. 
Hired as a cable splicing helper in 1957 in what was then the Plant 
Department in Houston, he continued this work until 1969. At that time 
he was transferred to Network Operations as a Communications 
Technician.
  In 1987, after serving as Job, Chief, and District Stewards for over 
two decades, B.J. was elected President of the Communications Workers 
of America Local 6222. In this position, he represented over 7,000 
bargaining unit employees working for SWB Telephone, SWB Yellow Pages, 
SWB Wireless, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, and printing sector in metro 
Houston and surrounding areas in the Southeast Texas region.
  Despite his busy schedule as President of the CWA Local 6222, B.J. 
also found time to serve on the board of trustees of the United Way of 
the Texas Gulf Coast, and raise four children with his wife Frances.
  B.J. has served as a leader in all phases of local organizing drives, 
and all legislative and community service work. I would like to thank 
B.J. for his service to the CWA and its members, and congratulate him 
for having the flag pole dedicated to him on May 19, 2007.

                          ____________________