[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 123 (Monday, July 23, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MR. ROBERT (BOB) VON DRASEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2018

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Mr. Robert (Bob) Von Drasek the most dedicated, committed and most 
loyal Saul Alinsky-trained organizer that I have ever known. Bob came 
to the South Austin Community during a time of great turbulence. The 
community was in the throes of a great transition from being 80 percent 
white to becoming 80 percent Black within a ten-year period of time. 
Block busting, panic peddling, redlining, disinvestment and all manner 
of malfeasance were taking place. Police brutality and other forms of 
law enforcement misconduct were rampant. I met Bob Von Drasek (during 
this period. It was also during this time that the organization for a 
Better Austin was organized, the South Austin Coalition Community 
Council (SACCC) was formed with Bob as lead organizer, and I decided to 
run for the City Council. Over the years I have followed Bob's work 
with SACCC. South Austin is practically an all black community except 
for a few merchants who never left the area, a few white residents, 
school teachers and policemen, Bob is white or caucasian and yet he won 
the hearts of the community and the trust of the people. He has 
developed intimate relationships with many of the residents and to many 
he is like a member of their family. Through much of Bob's leadership, 
SACCC became known as the top grassroots community organization in the 
Chicago land area. Bob was always a great strategist but the members 
like Mr. Ed Bailey, Mrs. Irene Norwood, Mrs. Lillian Drummond and Mr. 
George Lawson were the voices. Many people don't know it, but it was 
SACCC who led community reinvestment. It was SACCC who organized senior 
citizens. It was SACCC that led the fight for LIHEAP. It was SACCC that 
kept the Austin Bank on its toes (best behavior). It was SACCC that 
united block clubs. It was SACCC that got people to join local school 
councils, and it was SACCC that got churches to open their doors for 
community meetings. I have been in buildings with Bob where there was 
no heat. I have been in homes where there was no food, and I have been 
on streets where there were no lights. I have been in alleys where 
there was no hope. I have been with Bob and families after their 
relatives had been shot. Bob has worked to bring help to the helpless 
and hope to the hopeless. Bob Von Drasek is a good man and I thank him 
and his family, his wife and children for what they have meant to our 
community and to our world. True soldiers are always reluctant to come 
off the battlefield, but there comes a time when we must put away our 
swords and shields to practice war no more. When that time comes, just 
know that he has made a difference. When he came to South Austin, some 
newspapers, urban planners and prognosticators were predicting that 
Austin would be the next slum. They did not know him, and they did not 
know the people of South Austin. South Austin is not a slum. It is a 
vibrant, forward-thinking and forward-moving community. Bob has done 
the Master's work. He has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, brought 
hope to the hopeless, and helped the helpless. He has lifted spirits 
and he has taught people how to love, how to live, and how to work 
together. I close with words of my favorite song:

     ``If when you give the best of your service, Telling the 
           world that the Savior is come; Be not dismayed when men 
           believe you; He understands; and say, ``Well done.''

     Oh, when I come to the end of my journey, Weary of life and 
           the battle is won; carrying the staff and the cross of 
           redemption, He'll understand, and say ``Well done.''

     If when this life of labor is ended, And the reward of the 
           race you have run; Oh! the sweet rest prepared for 
           faithful, Will be his blest and final ``Well done.''

     But if you try and fail in your trying, hands sore and 
           scarred from the work you've begun; take up your cross, 
           run quickly to meet Him; He'll understand, he'll say, 
           ``Well done!''

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