[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 27882-27883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING J. ROY GABRIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 22, 2007

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize J. Roy 
Gabriel for his years of distinguished service to the California Farm 
Bureau Federation. Mr. J. Roy Gabriel passed away, unexpectedly, during 
a Farm Bureau advocacy trip to Washington, DC the week of October 1st.
  Roy Gabriel was a native of Fullerton, California. He graduated from 
California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in 
agricultural business management and received a technical certificate 
in crop production. Mr. Gabriel worked as Assistant Secretary of the 
California State Senate prior to beginning his career with the 
California Farm Bureau in 1973.
  In Mr. Gabriel's 35 years with the California Farm Bureau he worked 
closely with many government officials, farmers and farm laborers to 
promote agriculture and to provide a more conducive environment for 
every one involved. As the Director of Labor Affairs, Mr. Gabriel 
represented the Farm Bureau on a number of issue areas; including labor 
policies, workplace rules and housing issues. He was passionate and 
knowledgeable in all issues related to agriculture business and was 
involved with many agriculture groups outside of the California Farm 
Bureau.

[[Page 27883]]

  During the 1980's, Mr. Gabriel, served as the general manager of an 
organization known as ALFA. This organization assisted immigrant farm 
workers with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and 
successfully assisted over 50,000 people in applying for legal 
immigration status. Governor Pete Wilson appointed Mr. Gabriel to serve 
as Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Industrial 
Relations in 1998. However, he returned to the California Farm Bureau 
after Governor Wilson termed out of office in 1999.
  Mr. Gabriel was a committed advocate for family farmers and ranchers 
across the State. He worked both as Director of Labor Affairs for the 
California Farm Bureau Federation and as Chief Operating Officer of the 
Farm Employers Labor Service. The Washington, DC trip earlier this 
month was an advocacy trip in support of Federal immigration reform 
legislation. He is survived by his wife, Ruth and three adult children; 
John C. Gabriel, Kristi A. Gabriel and Christopher R. Gabriel.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor posthumously J. Roy Gabriel. I 
invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Gabriel for his 
extraordinary service and dedication to his community.

                          ____________________