[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. ALVIN R. LEONARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2008

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
of Dr. Alvin R. Leonard. We lost this kind spirit and community leader 
on April 20, 2008. A remarkable trailblazer and humanitarian, Dr. 
Leonard lived a full and vibrant 90 years, during which he transformed 
our community immeasurably. Although his presence will be sorely 
missed, there is no doubt that his legacy will continue far into the 
future.
  Dr. Alvin R. Leonard was a respected physician and community activist 
who used his talents and intelligence to serve those most in need in 
our community. Nearly 40 years ago, he helped found the Berkeley Free 
Clinic in my congressional district. Dr. Leonard then dedicated the 
remainder of his life to making sure people were given the opportunity 
to achieve and maintain good health. For Dr. Leonard, this was 
especially important for those who faced economic hardships or 
strenuous life circumstances.
  During the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Leonard served as the director of 
public health for the City of Berkeley, California. Dr. Leonard truly 
fulfilled his role as a public servant, introducing initiatives which 
championed those most in need regardless of the opposition or 
skepticism he faced from contemporaries. An example of his foresight is 
the seat-belt campaign he launched to encourage people to buy the 
safety devices and install them in their cars--long before national 
legislation mandated that auto manufacturers build cars equipped with 
them.
  One of his greatest characteristics, noted by his family and friends, 
was his sense of humor. Dr. Leonard clearly knew the importance of 
love, camaraderie, community building, and maintaining a youthful 
spirit in the pursuit of both health and social justice. During his 
tenure as public health director, Dr. Leonard succeeded in persuading 
department employees to run up and down the stairs for exercise, 
convinced many to quit smoking, and always urged people to take their 
health both seriously and personally by giving up bad habits and 
encouraging lifestyle changes.
  Dr. Alvin Leonard was an exceptionally vibrant and creative person 
whose accomplishments spanned decades where he personally impacted the 
lives of those around him. He documented pesticide poisoning among farm 
workers in the 1940s, created statewide programs to control high-blood 
pressure among specific ethnic groups and examined the health effects 
of electromagnetic fields. Perhaps most notably, in 1969 Dr. Leonard 
helped to establish the Berkeley Free Clinic.
  Dr. Leonard was a pioneer and champion of our most vulnerable 
community members. Although the Greater Bay Area is one of the most 
diverse and innovative regions in the Nation, it also faces many 
challenges including homelessness, poverty, and health inequities. Dr. 
Leonard's compassion for those less fortunate motivated him to create a 
``street medicine'' clinic.
  The Berkeley Free Clinic found a permanent home in the Berkeley 
community, one of the Nation's epicenters for social justice advocacy. 
The clinic services our neighbors who are in the most dire economic 
need by providing them with a right that should be universal--the right 
to health care. Essential to Dr. Leonard's personal convictions and 
vision are the compassion and personal care shown to residents of my 
district who seek assistance from the clinic.
  In its 40-year tenure, the clinic has served thousands of people, and 
today it is a strong pillar of hope for many in my district.
  Although Dr. Leonard formally retired in 1984, he continued public 
health consulting until his own health no longer permitted it during 
this past year.
  Dr. Leonard's legacy will certainly live on through the lives of all 
who were fortunate enough to know him. His contributions to our society 
were so great that his positive influence will continue on even through 
those who were never able to meet him.
  Today, California's Ninth Congressional District salutes and honors 
Dr. Alvin R. Leonard. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, 
especially his wife of 65 years, Pearl, and his daughters Barbara and 
Cathy. May his soul rest in peace.

                          ____________________