[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING EULA TATE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2009

  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of Eula Tate, a strong leader, social activist, and union 
advocate. Eula passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Through four 
decades of social activism, Eula Tate demonstrated how one individual 
can live the American dream and be a positive influence for social 
justice.
  In 1967, Eula was hired at Chrysler's Trenton Engine plant, in 
Trenton, Michigan. While at Chrysler, she worked as an assembler and 
forklift driver, served as chief steward and became Vice President of 
UAW Local 630. Eula was a Councilmember for the City of Ypsilanti from 
1981-1991, and also served as Ypsilanti's senior chief executive 
officer, a member of the City's Budget Committee, and Mayor Pro Tem. 
Eula's service as Ypsilanti's Mayor Pro Tem was the first for an 
African American woman in the State of Michigan.
  Eula also worked as a faculty member at Michigan State University for 
the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Union Minorities and 
Women's Leadership Training Project. She came to UAW's Washington 
office in 1991 and continued her role as Legislative Representative/
Lobbyist until her retirement in 2007. Eula was a staunch advocate for 
equal rights for all people. In her position as UAW's Legislative 
Representative/Lobbyist, Eula worked for passage of key legislation 
affecting families, women, and minorities. Eula also improved people's 
lives overseas by being an International Election official in South 
Africa's first free elections.
  Eula held a bachelor's of science degree from the University of 
Michigan, a master's degree in public administration from George Mason 
University and was working on a Ph.D. in public policy and 
administration with a concentration on women leadership in the labor 
movement in the 21st century from Walden University in Baltimore, 
Maryland.
  She was a lifetime member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, 
CLUW, and recently served as Interim Executive Director and 
Administrative Assistant to the President of CLUW. She was also a life 
member of the NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eula has been 
listed in ``Who's Who Among American Women'', ``Black Women in 
Michigan'' and ``Who's Who among Black Americans''.
  Eula is survived by her five adult children: Jennifer, Stephen, 
Yomika, Ronald, and Donald.
  Madam Speaker, I will miss her smile, sense of humor and her 
sisterhood. I pay tribute to the life and work of Eula Tate and express 
my deepest condolences to her family and to all who knew, loved, and 
were touched by her life.

                          ____________________