[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 166 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JOSEPH DEBRO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2013

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life and career of Bay Area community leader and tireless 
advocate for the underserved, Mr. Joseph Debro. Known throughout the 
Greater Oakland/Bay Area region as an innovative and dedicated mentor 
for minority businesses, Joseph Debro was also a stalwart community 
member. With his passing, we look to Mr. Debro's tremendous legacy and 
the outstanding quality of his life's work.
  Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Debro attended and graduated from 
McClymonds High School in Oakland, California. He later enrolled at the 
University of California at Berkeley, where he was awarded an 
undergraduate and Master's Degree in bio-chemistry. Upon graduation, 
Mr. Debro put his extensive knowledge to work as research assistance at 
the University of California at San Francisco, and later when he was 
recruited by NASA as a bio-chemical engineer.
  In his own words, Mr. Debro was the son of former slaves, who had to 
ride in the back of the bus with his parents, drinking water from 
fountains designated for coloreds only, and picking cotton in fields 
owned by White people. And even though he saw some diminution of racism 
throughout his lifetime, he was always quick to point out glaring 
inequalities in our justice system that persists to this day.
  Mr. Debro tirelessly sought to raise awareness of the experiences 
African American contractors faced in their attempts to be recognized 
as viable businessmen in their industry. In the mid-1960's, Mr. Debro 
observed that Black contractors were excluded from urban redevelopment 
projects occurring in their own backyard. In his efforts to fight this 
disparity, Mr. Debro organized minority contractors and co-founded the 
National Association of Minority Contractors. Along these same lines, 
in 2009, he founded the Bay Area Black Builders, an organization 
composed of black construction workers and contractors fighting for 
economic justice.
  As a community activist, Mr. Debro fought for fair housing policies, 
lending practices, and employment in building trades, among other 
issues. Alongside Congressman Bennie Thompson, he helped build 
thousands of units of rural housing throughout the nation. As a 
contractor, Mr. Debro built and rehabilitated numerous structures, such 
as the Malonga Casquelord Arts Center in Oakland. And in keeping with 
his role as a guarding of the community, in 2012, he again challenged 
the Raiders football team in court to repay a $53.9 million loan to the 
City of Oakland and County of Alameda.
  Furthermore, Mr. Debro boasted an impressive history with local and 
state government. Throughout the years, he served as the Director for 
the State of California's office of Small Business, Director of the 
Oakland Small Business Center, Director of the Oakland Model Cities 
Program, and the Vice President of the Mayor's office of Economic 
Development in San Francisco.
  I had the honor to have known Joe since the early 1970s. He was a 
visionary, bold, and never wavered with his commitment to the African 
American community. He helped fund California Resources, which Elihu 
Harris and I organized, and provided a Washington presence for minority 
owned firms. I learned a lot from Joe and will always remember his 
friendship and his wise counsel.
  Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors a 
great friend of the Bay Area and a true champion for equity, Mr. Joseph 
Debro. His steadfast commitment to ensuring that minorities have access 
to a better quality of life will forever live on with the legacy of his 
vision. I offer my sincerest condolences to his many loved ones and to 
all of those whose lives he touched over the years. He will be deeply 
missed.

                          ____________________