[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4862]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DAVID CURSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2013

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend, David 
Curson, on the occasion of his retirement.
  Many of you know David from his seven weeks of service in the House 
during the 112th Congress representing Michigan's 11th district. He was 
elected with the help of community activists, including his beloved 
United Auto Workers, to fill a vacancy for the shortest term in recent 
memory. While he was here, David unflinchingly stood up for working 
American families, always remembering his roots back in Michigan and 
Ohio. His time in the House was not wasted: His was a key vote in 
avoiding the fiscal cliff this past January. It was a tough one to 
take, but David did so with the greater good in mind, as he has always 
done. His service here was nothing short of honorable, and the Michigan 
Delegation is better off for his having a part of it.
  David's service to his fellowman far predated his time in Congress. 
He proudly served his country as a Marine in Vietnam. When he returned 
to the United States, David started a life-long career at Ford and with 
the United Auto Workers, particularly Local 898 in Rawsonville, 
Michigan. David has held nearly every imaginable position in the Union, 
from chairman of the Local UAW/Ford Joint Apprenticeship Committee to 
Director of Special Projects and Economic Analysis to Executive 
Assistant to the UAW's President, Vice President, and Secretary 
Treasurer. He led contract negotiations that saved thousands of 
American jobs and helped set the standard for job security agreements 
in North America. In short, David has devoted his life to his fellow 
working men and women and done a magnificent job for them.
  Mr. Speaker, I am humbled and grateful to call David my friend. His 
dedication to social justice and public service are example to us all, 
and one which I hope we will all heed. I know David's entire family--
from his wonderful wife Sharon, to his children David Jr., Lisa, David 
II, and Kathryn, to his grandsons Peyton and Parker--all appreciate 
David's extraordinary life of service and are thrilled to be able to 
spend more time with him as he retires. To my good friend, David, and 
his family, I wish health, happiness, and long life.

                          ____________________