[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19947]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        MAC COLMENERO: WINNER OF THE 2005 JOHNS FELLOWSHIP AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I acknowledge a great friend of 
labor--Macario Colmenero.
  ``Mac'' was born just south of downtown San Diego in Barrio Logan, 
formerly known as Logan Heights, to Ben and Guadalupe Colmenero. As a 
child, he helped out in his father's meat and grocery store at the 
corner of National and Sigsbee Streets. He also sold newspapers for the 
Tribune Sun and later delivered other newspapers in town.
  Mac attended Our Lady of Guadalupe School and was a graduate of their 
first class in June of 1950. He attended high school at Saint Augustine 
but left before graduating to join the Navy in 1952.
  After his tour of duty, he found a job at Harbor Box Company which 
manufactured wooden boxes and crates for tomatoes grown in Chula Vista. 
His starting wage was a $1.25 an hour with no benefits.
  In 1956, he worked for T. Claude Ryan and Rohr Aircraft Co. In 1957, 
he enrolled in the Cement Finisher Apprenticeship Program with Cement 
Masons Local #744 at the old Craftsmen Hall on Centre Street. 
Construction work was slow in San Diego, so he went to work for a 
Custom Auto repair shop for a short time. In August 1959, Mac went to 
work for Benton Roofing Co. as a roofer loader, then as a roofer for 
Veteran's Roof Co. He then advanced to journeyman, foreman and 
superintendent with Witherow Roofing Co.
  In 1978, he was elected as a delegate to the Roofers International 
Convention in Miami. In December of that year, he was elected to the 
office of Business Agent of Roofers Local #45 where he served also as 
the Apprentice Coordinator and Secretary of the JATC. He held this 
office for three terms, a total of nine years. In 1986, due to the 
finances of the local, the position of business agent was eliminated 
and he was voted in as president, a non-paying position.
  In 1987, he obtained a C-39 Roofing Contractor's license and signed 
an agreement with Local #45. In 1993, he was unanimously voted to the 
office of Business Manager, where he also serves as the Financial 
Secretary-Treasurer, Agent, Organizer, Apprentice Coordinator, Chairman 
of the Apprenticeship JATC, and Apprentice classroom instructor.
  Mac also serves as a trustee to the Roofers Trust and is one of the 
directors at the National City Parks Apartments. Mac re-joined the 
``Johns'' in 1993 and plans to be a lifetime member. After serving 12 
years in Roofers Local #45 as Business Manager, Mac plans to retire in 
December of this year, but will continue to assist with the 
Apprenticeship Program.
  Mac has been married to his wife Karen for 31 years and they have 
lived in North Park since 1974.
  I am proud to salute Mac Colmenero on his recognition with the Johns 
Fellowship Award!

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