[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 68 (Thursday, April 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E485-E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF ELIAS W. ``CHUCK'' HADDAD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 2019

  Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Chuck 
Haddad, who passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the age of 85. 
The namesake of the Haddad car dealerships in Bakersfield, California, 
Chuck was an esteemed local businessman and philanthropist and most 
importantly, a friend to many in our community including myself.
  Chuck's life story is a true embodiment of the American dream. Having 
grown up in Lebanon, he moved to the United States to attend

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Wabash College in Indiana. However, as Chuck soon found out, the 
Midwest gets a bit colder than the Mediterranean climate where he was 
raised. Fortunately, he found a suitable alternative in the great state 
of California, where he moved shortly thereafter to attend Stanford 
University in Palo Alto. It was here that Chuck's automobile career 
began when, while shopping for a car of his own, the dealer was so 
impressed with his bargaining skills that he offered Chuck a salesman 
position on the spot. Within a year he was the dealership's General 
Manager. Chuck went on to open his own dealership in East Los Angeles 
in 1973, followed by Haddad Dodge in Bakersfield, California in 1974. 
Chuck and his family owned the Dodge dealership, Haddad Kia, and have 
ownership stakes in Nissan of Bakersfield, BMW of Bakersfield, and 
Bakersfield Chrysler Jeep FIAT.
  Outside of his dealerships, perhaps the professional accomplishment 
Chuck was most proud of was winning a landmark court case against the 
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In Bakersfield Dodge Inc. v. The IRS, 
the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that car dealerships have the 
right to allocate certain financial resources for tax purposes, 
benefitting automotive dealers across the country. Anyone that knew 
Chuck would be unsurprised to hear how proud he was to have been able 
to help others. In fact, Chuck helped countless people in the 
Bakersfield area by his generous contributions to charitable causes 
such as research for juvenile diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, 
cancer and leukemia. He also provided leadership and guidance on the 
California State University Bakersfield's business advisory panel, the 
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, and the Kern County Hispanic 
Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.
  But Chuck was most proud of the great love story of him and his late 
wife, Inger. Together as parents to James and Lisa, John and Meredith, 
and Jeff and Tina, and grandparents to Michael, Ryan, Allie and Ryan, 
Jacob, Joshua and Maci, their lives were filled with many memorable 
moments. As a husband, father, grandfather and friend, we will always 
remember Chuck's devotion to family. As a philanthropist, Chuck's 
commitment to community was evident through his many civic 
contributions as well, most notably through the National Automobile 
Dealers Association. Through the association, he was dedicated to 
fostering relationships with our local, state and federal elected 
officials recognizing the importance of effective leadership. Chuck 
held true to his conservative principles as was evident in his support 
of helping candidates who shared these values pursue successful 
campaigns. As a member of the Kern County Republican Party, he received 
the 2016 Republican of the Year Award, where his tireless efforts on 
behalf of a grateful party were recognized.
  The measure of a man's life can be found in his character, in his 
optimism, in his joy and humor, in his courage and passion for what is 
good and right and in his love for family, neighbor and country. This 
was the life of Chuck Haddad.
  On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, we 
remember my friend, Chuck Haddad, and extend our most heartfelt 
condolences to the Haddad family.

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