[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 169 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MR. JOSEPH R. DEBRO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 2, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
fellow Mississippian, Mr. Joseph R. Debro, who passed away on November 
5, 2013, three days after his 85th birthday. Joseph Debro was a staunch 
advocate for workers civil rights and justice. Joseph may have had a 
totally different life because as a young man, he had a strong desire 
to serve his country in the military and, in fact, received an 
appointment to West Point from Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, but 
Joe's physical examination revealed a medical issue--Sickle Cell Anemia 
Trait--which precluded his appointment. That set-back did not deter Joe 
from moving forward and seeking new avenues to achieve his goals
  Joseph Debro was by education and training a scientist, having 
received his undergraduate degree in Bacteriology and his Masters 
degree in Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. 
Joe held several important positions in his field after graduation--
Research Assistant at UCSF, and NASA Bio-Chemical Engineer (where he 
worked on the Environment of the first space capsule). Joe later 
entered the business world, where we all felt he had found his true 
calling by challenging long-standing practices of discrimination and 
racial exclusion in trade unions and government contracting. Fighting 
racial injustice would be Joe's primary struggle to the end of his 
life. In his early days, he joined another advocate, Ray Dones, and 
organized over 300 Black contractors and was the co-founder of the 
National Association of Minority Contractors. He also founded the first 
minority-owned surety company in the United States--the Builders Mutual 
Surety Company.
  Joe's work did not go unnoticed, he was apponted by then California 
Governor Jerry Brown to be the Director of the State of California 
Office of Small Business. Joe later became a co-founder of Trans Bay 
Engineering, a company with the signature accomplishment of renovating 
the long dormant Alice Arts Center, now known as the Malonga Casquelord 
Arts Center in Oakland.
  Joseph Debro was probably the one person who was responsible for the 
increase of minority trainees in Northern California unions. In every 
contract that was awarded, Joseph tried to find ways to include women 
and minority-owned businesses and received numerous awards in 
recognition of his efforts.
  Joseph served over 40 years on the board of the Housing Assistance 
Council, whose mission is to construct affordable housing for low-
income people throughout the country. I was honored to serve on that 
board with Joe for over 20 years.
  One of Joe's longest running and most passionate struggles to right a 
wrong was the lawsuit he initiated against the Oakland Raiders for 
receiving a loan of $465 million from the City of Oakland that was 
never repaid.
  After retirement, Joe continued to be active in his community and 
began writing for several community newspapers (including the San 
Francisco Bayview, a national black newspaper; the East Bay Express, 
and the Oakland Post). Joe was a member of the Oakland Kiwanis club, 
serving on the scholarship committee.
  Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anita, who was his strongest 
supporter along with his three sons, Keith, Karl and Kraig.
  Joe will be truly missed by all who knew him.

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