[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF ARTHUR ``ROY'' THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 2019

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I 
rise to honor the life of Arthur ``Roy'' Thomas and extend my 
condolences to his family. Roy was an integral part of the 
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural 
Implement Workers of America (UAW) Region 8.
  Roy, a dedicated champion for union rights, tragically passed away on 
July 13th after a battle with stage 4 cancer.
  He was a dear friend and embodied the best of what it means to give 
back to your country and community. Born in 1952, Roy dedicated his 
entire life to helping others. He began working at Fleetguard in 1970 
and was employed there for 47 years. Roy started working for UAW in 
November 1995 as a union organizer and became UAW Community Action 
Program Representative in October 2002 until his retirement in December 
2017.
  Roy embodied UAW's mission of social justice and action, and his 
passion truly inspired so many of the union sisters and brothers that 
he fought for every day.
  He was warm, loyal and devoted to his friends and allies. He was the 
type of person who through his affable personality and his approach to 
advocacy on the issues important to auto workers drew devotion, respect 
and affection simultaneously.
  I personally was a recipient of his unwavering friendship and am 
eternally grateful for his leadership in supporting our unions.
  Roy Thomas was truly one-of-a-kind whose joy for life is the imprint 
he left on the hearts of those who knew him well.
  He will be tremendously missed, but never forgotten.

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