[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27732]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LOUIS FINE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who, 
throughout his life, exhibited leadership and dedication in serving the 
working men and women of the Upper Peninsula and our Nation. On 
Saturday, the men and women of Michigan's Upper Peninsula will honor 
Louis Fine by inducting him into the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of 
Fame.
  The organized labor movement enjoys a rich and storied history in 
Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.). From the Copper Country mining 
strikes of 1913, which were immortalized in Woody Gutherie's 1913 
Massacre, to the modern day, working men and women across the U.P. have 
a proud heritage of trade unionism. Likewise, throughout his life, 
Louis Fine exemplified that rich tradition, generously donating his 
personal time and effort to his local Union and to the Labor movement.
  A member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 
598, Louis developed a reputation as someone always willing to go the 
extra mile and take on additional duties in support of his local union. 
Throughout his lifetime of union involvement, he served his union in 
many different capacities. He served as an Apprentice Instructor for 
carpenters and millwrights during the early 1990's. He was a delegate 
for his local Union to the Marquette County Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He 
also served as Treasurer and distinguished President of Local 958 for 
many years.
  Louis was well respected and greatly loved, not only in the U.P. 
Labor movement, but in the greater Marquette community and, indeed, 
throughout much of the U.P. Beyond his work in the labor movement he 
was a dedicated community volunteer. Those who knew him best describe 
how he was always willing to give of himself to help others, never 
asking or expecting recognition for his selfless acts. Not only did he 
regularly volunteer for Labor causes and programs, but he often made 
time to help programs for the disadvantaged and other charitable 
causes.
  Perhaps one of Louis' greatest accomplishments for the Labor movement 
was the revival of the Upper Peninsula Labor Day picnic, parade and 
program in the early 1990s. Louis is widely recognized as the driving 
force that helped to reinvigorate this annual celebration, which means 
so much to the working men and women of the U.P.
  After a lifetime of hard work, Louis Fine passed away in 2003. He is 
survived by his loving wife of many years, Betty.
  Madam Speaker, one of the titans of the American Labor movement, the 
head of the American Federation of Labor Samuel Gompers once called 
Labor Day, ``[T]he day for which the toilers in past centuries looked 
forward when their rights and their wrongs would be discussed . . . 
that the workers of our day may not only lay down their tools of labor 
fore a holiday, but upon which they may touch shoulders in marching 
phalanx and feel the stronger for it.
  Every year, as the working men and women of the U.P. march shoulder 
to shoulder, we remember and honor the sacrifices of our predecessors 
in the Labor movement. Henceforth, every Labor Day, as we remember our 
ancestors of the Labor movement, the working men and women of the U.P. 
will remember Mr. Louis Fine for bringing back the hallowed tradition 
of the annual U.P. Labor Day picnic and parade.
  Madam Speaker, since 1993, outstanding labor leaders in northern 
Michigan have been honored with induction into the Upper Peninsula 
Labor Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is housed in the Superior Dome on 
the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette. Louis Fine is 
a deserving addition to this august group and, I salute his memory. I 
would ask, Madam Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of 
Representatives join me in recognizing his many contributions to the 
Upper Peninsula Labor movement, his dedication to all working men and 
women, and his commitment to the Marquette and Upper Peninsula 
community.

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