[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 125 (Friday, August 19, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNITION OF HENRY L. ``HANK'' LACAYO'S 80TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 19, 2011

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend, Henry L. ``Hank'' Lacayo, an exceptional individual who has 
dedicated his life to public service, community leadership and social 
activism. On August 20, 2011, the Henry L. ``Hank'' Lacayo Tribute 
Committee will be celebrating Hank's 80th birthday, and honoring him 
for his endless contributions to the county of Ventura, the State of 
California and our Nation.
  Hank is currently serving a fifth term as State President of the 
Congress of California Seniors, a statewide senior advocacy 
organization. But Hank has been an active and engaged community leader 
for more than half a century. He first began his labor career in 1953, 
and was soon elected to become the President of UAW Local 887, 
representing over 32,000 workers at North America Aviation/Rockwell 
International in Los Angeles.
  During his presidency Hank served as an instrumental figure in 
several events that forever changed our nation. Hank's activism during 
the civil rights movement was one of them. In August of 1963, Hank led 
a delegation from the L.A. area to join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 
the Washington DC. civil rights march. Hank also showed his support of 
Cesar Chavez by serving as a key individual in encouraging the UAW to 
financially aid farm workers.
  Although Hank's trajectory has been focused within the work of labor 
unions, he has also been heavily involved within the Latino Community. 
Raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, Hank has stayed close to his roots and 
culture. He joined the late Willie Velazquez and Dr. Juan Andrade to 
help found the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, and he served as its 
first President and Chairman of the Board. Hank also currently serves 
as the Chair of the Vision Committee and co-founder of Destino: The 
Hispanic Legacy Fund of the Ventura County Community Foundation.
  Hank has been recognized on numerous occasions and has received 
various prestigious honors and recognitions. These include the Tri-
Counties Labor Leader of the Year, The Pat Brown Institute Life-Time 
Public Service Award, California Lutheran University Exemplar Medallion 
and, among many others, the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute National 
Hispanic Hero Award.
  Hank has been able to expand his life legacy to many broad aspects of 
community leadership and public service. It is my distinct pleasure to 
ask my colleagues to join with me in wishing Henry L. ``Hank'' Lacayo a 
happy 80th birthday and in saluting him for his years of public service 
and community leadership.

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