[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF RON CAWDREY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Ron 
Cawdrey, a close friend and driving force in the City of Redondo Beach, 
California, who died last month.
  In addition to being a two-term councilman, Ron served his community 
in so many other ways, including on the North Redondo Beach Business 
Association, the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the local Little 
League. He also was vice president of the Communications Workers of 
America, Local 9400, representing 10,000 members in California, and was 
actively involved in local Democratic politics.
  But listing Ron's affiliations does not come near to describing the 
contributions he made to our community and the impact he had on the 
individuals he touched. A quick glance at the tributes his friends and 
colleagues have written reveals a man who was inspirational, loving, 
nonconfrontational and deeply devoted to his family. People just liked 
being around him.
  In short, Mr. Speaker, Ron was well deserving of his 1992 Redondo 
Beach Man of the Year award, and his recent Redondo Beach Mayor's 
Lifetime Community Service Award.
  I am uncertain when I first met Ron, but believe it was at a meeting 
of local labor leaders. Ron ``adopted'' me, and became a tireless 
worker on my behalf. He was always there for me, and for so many 
others.
  The last time I saw Ron was at a regional Chamber of Commerce 
breakfast, hosted by the Redondo Beach Chamber. I hadn't seen him in 
some time, but he bounded up to me with his magnetic smile, gave me a 
big hug, and asked how I was doing.
  Mr. Speaker, my heart goes out to Ron's wife Punky, his four children 
and four grandchildren, for I know the next few weeks and months will 
be difficult. But as they grieve, I hope they find comfort in knowing 
what a wonderful contribution Ron made to the world around him.

                          ____________________