[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1020-E1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JAIME MARTINEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2017

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Jaime Martinez, a son of San Antonio and civil rights leader 
who left an indelible mark on our city and nation. He was raised on the 
West Side of San Antonio by his grandparents, immigrants to the United 
States who had an appreciation for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 
that resonated with Jaime in his youth. They involved him at an early 
age in La Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana, which taught Jaime the 
importance of serving the community and helping others.
  After attending Lanier High School, Jaime pursued his passion for 
music, and toured with a number of bands across the United States and 
Canada before returning to San Antonio in 1966. Shortly after, he 
joined the International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE, now the IUE-
AFL-CIO) Local 780. Jaime went on

[[Page E1021]]

to become the Secretary Treasurer for the Executive Board of IUE 
District 11, the first Mexican American to do so at the national level, 
and served as the National Labor Coordinator for Coordinadora 96.
  A talented and passionate organizer, Jaime served as first vice 
president for the Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO and as president 
of the national Labor Council of Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). 
Also a strong advocate for immigrant rights, Jaime founded and was 
president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 
Council No. 4626 in San Antonio. Later, he became the National 
Chairperson of the Immigration Committee tor LCLAA and treasurer of 
LULAC at the national level. For nearly two decades, until his passing, 
Jaime also served as the founder and chairman of the Cesar Chavez 
Legacy and Educational Foundation.
  Jaime is survived by his wife, Maria Guadalupe Martinez; his 
daughter, Sarah Marie Martinez; his sons Ernest J. Martinez and 
Christopher Michael Martinez; his daughter-in-law Joyce A. Martinez; 
and his granddaughters Erika, Kayla, Amanda, and Sophia. I wish the 
entire Martinez family comfort and solace at this difficult time. 
Jaime's life of leadership and service improved the lives of workers 
and immigrants across the country. He will be missed.

                          ____________________