[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9935]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        HONORING WALTER CAMPBELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2001

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to rise before you today 
to pay tribute to a loyal friend and a tireless advocate of America's 
workers. On June 5, friends and family will gather in Lansing, 
Michigan, to honor Walter Campbell, as he celebrates his 90th birthday.
  Walter Campbell was born in Manistee, Michigan in 1911. His family 
moved to Muskegon, where he spent most of his life. He became active in 
the labor movement when he joined Local 404 of the Allied Industrial 
Workers, AFL-CIO, in 1937, while employed by Borg Warner in Muskegon 
Heights. He was elected to serve the union in various capacities, 
including chief steward, bargaining committeeman, and president. In 
1941 he took a new endeavor when he began work with the international 
union. He became an international representative in 1943 and remained 
in that position until 1967, when he was elected Regional Director of 
AIW Region 7 and a member of the Michigan AFL-CIO Executive Board and 
Executive Committee. During his tenure with the AFL-CIO, Walter held 
many positions and chaired several committees. In 1959, Walter was 
appointed by Governor G. Mennen Williams as one of two labor members of 
the Michigan Employment Security Commission. He was consistently 
reappointed and served seven consecutive terms, three of which he 
served as chairman. His final term ended in 1987, 11 years after his 
retirement from the Michigan State AFL-CIO.
  Walter's commitment to labor is matched only by his tremendous 
commitment to improving the community. He has been a member of United 
Way of Michigan's Board of Directors, and chairman of the Michigan 
Welfare Reform Coalition. He has worked with such groups as the 
Michigan Diabetes Association, United Negro College Fund, and the 
Michigan Catholic Conference, among many others. Since retiring, Walter 
has devoted much of his time to the United Way, assisting them with 
campaigns throughout the state. Walter has given so much of himself to 
the community that he has been recognized for it by many organizations. 
He has received awards for distinguished service by the Michigan League 
for Human Services, Boy Scouts of America, the Tri-County Volunteer 
Action Center, and the Lansing Human Relations Board. On June 9, 1979, 
Walter was honored by Grand Valley State College with an honorary 
Doctorate of Humanities.
  Walter has also stood as a standard by which other community leaders 
are measured. In 1977, the Michigan United Labor Community Services 
School started the Walter A. Campbell Community Service Award to the 
student best demonstrating involvement in community services. In 1981, 
the Capital Area United Way established the Walter Campbell Award for 
Outstanding Volunteerism for those who stood out as an inspiration to 
others for community service through the United Way.
  Mr. Speaker, Walter Campbell is a great humanitarian, an unselfish 
leader, and a true role model. In addition, he is a loving husband, 
father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. I personally have had the 
privilege of knowing Mr. Campbell for over a third of a century and I 
am clearly a better person because of him. He is a symbol of excellence 
to everyone in this nation, and is a shining example of the best our 
society has to offer. I ask my colleagues in the 107th Congress to 
please join me in wishing Walter a very happy 90th birthday, and many 
more to come.

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