[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN TRIBUTE TO OBIE V. BRANDON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2009

  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Obie Brandon, a 
dear friend and community leader who passed away last week after a 
valiant fight against cancer. Obie was a prominent labor leader in the 
Sacramento Region, and his death leaves a great void in the fight for 
the rights of working families and the labor movement. As his family, 
friends, and labor brothers and sisters gather to honor and remember 
his wonderful life, I ask all my colleagues to join me in saluting one 
of Sacramento's most well-respected figures.
  Obie was an admired advocate for the working class citizens and an 
unapologetic champion for the rights of the underserved and needy. 
Obie's roots in labor began early in his life with his first career 
beginning in 1962 as a flour miller for Pillsbury. After the plant 
closed, he continued his career with United Grocers until he was called 
for military service in Vietnam. After serving his country for two 
years in Vietnam, Obie returned to his position with United Grocers. He 
was a steadfast advocate of labor and continued his support of labor by 
becoming an active member of the International Longshoremen's Warehouse 
Union Local 17. He began as the Recording-Secretary for the ILWU Local 
17 in 1970 and soon became the Local's President in 1973.
  Obie was widely recognized as a tough negotiator and strong advocate 
for the rights of Union labor members. His ardent support for the labor 
movement soon caught the attention of Roy Mack of the United Food and 
Commercial Workers Local 498. Obie later joined Mack on the staff of 
the Local 498, where only eight months into his membership he was 
elected Secretary-Treasurer, a position he would hold from 1982 to 
1990. Later, along with other labor leaders, Obie helped form the 
Coalition of Organized Labor Board, an organization of 24 local Unions 
representing some 150,000 members and committed to bringing Unions 
together to provide mutual support. He served until his passing as the 
group's Secretary-Treasurer.
  Through his advocacy at the local and state levels, Obie became an 
important ambassador between labor Unions and Commercial Enterprises. 
In addition to his work with the UFCW, Obie served as Vice President of 
the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He was a passionate 
supporter of working class citizens and their rights through labor 
Unions, and his ardor and commitment to these issues resonated in his 
advocacy. Obie contributed to the growth and maturity of countless 
people and was a true champion of the labor movement.
  Madam Speaker, as Obie Brandon's wife Kathy, his children Tera Clizbe 
and Eric Brandon, his three grandchildren, Cameron, Brandon and Taylor, 
and his friends gather to honor his wonderful legacy and countless 
contributions, I am honored to pay tribute to him. I ask all my 
colleagues to pause and join me in paying respect to an extraordinarily 
loving man, Obie Brandon.

                          ____________________